Music-based interventions in childhood hearing loss: a comprehensive narrative review

Background/Objectives: Childhood hearing loss (HL) affects auditory, linguistic, and social development. Alongside conventional rehabilitation, music-based interventions have gained increasing attention for their potential to support both auditory and non-auditory domains. This narrative review aims to summarize current evidence on the use of music-based interventions in children with HL. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted, examining studies involving pediatric cochlear implant or hearing aid users. Publications were categorized into three main areas: musical auditory perception, musical training, and music therapy. Results: Studies on musical auditory perception demonstrate persistent limitations in pitch and timbre perception in children with HL, while rhythmic abilities appear relatively preserved. Musical training interventions, particularly those targeting rhythm, have been associated with improvements in auditory perception, linguistic processing, and selected cognitive skills, although parental involvement and long-term designs remain limited. Existing literature on music therapy is scarce but suggests potential benefits extending beyond auditory skills to emotional regulation, social interaction, and quality of life. Conclusions: Music-based interventions represent a promising complementary approach in pediatric hearing rehabilitation. While musical training is more widely studied, music therapy is still underrepresented despite its holistic focus. Further structured studies are needed to define standardized protocols and outcome measures for music therapy in children with HL.