Exploring how musicality affects hearing health

The Musicality, Hearing and Genetics ("MyHearingG") Project: Experimental, epidemiological, and genomics techniques to explore the role of musicality in hearing health

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-10873287

This study is looking at how being musical might help protect your hearing as you get older, and it's for older adults who love music or have musical skills.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-10873287 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between musicality and hearing health, particularly focusing on how musical aptitude and engagement may protect against age-related hearing loss. By employing experimental, epidemiological, and genomic techniques, the project aims to understand how individual differences in musical skills can influence hearing outcomes in older adults. The study will assess both the frequency of music engagement and the genetic factors associated with musicality to determine their impact on hearing abilities.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who have varying levels of musical experience and hearing health.

Not a fit: Patients with severe hearing loss or those who do not engage with music may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preserving hearing health through musical engagement.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results regarding the positive effects of musical engagement on hearing outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.