Music Education and Engagement for Young Children with Hearing Loss

Music education offers many benefits for all children and, as such, has the potential to help combat many of the cognitive, auditory, social, and emotional delays associated with childhood hearing loss. Although the idea of a musician with hearing loss may seem contradictory at first glance, the past 170 years of research shows that normal hearing is not a prerequisite for the development of musical skill, especially when appropriate teaching strategies are employed. This chapter aims to provide an overview of current knowledge surrounding the physical, technological, cultural, and pedagogical considerations for providing music education to children with hearing loss. This includes general information about device types, auditory development, auditory processing, (re)habilitation and educational approaches, and cultural considerations relating to hearing loss, hearing impairment, and Deaf populations. Teaching strategies and the potential benefits of music education and musical engagement for children with hearing loss are also discussed.