Effects of learning to play stringed instruments in adulthood on frequency discrimination by pitch pattern sequence test

Abstract

Background and Aim: Frequency discrimination is an important skill in central auditory processing which plays a critical role in proper reading, writing, and speech perception. Music training is among the ways that improve this skill. Most of the reviewed literature is based on the impact of learning music on the early stages of childhood. Therefore, if the tests used in the assessment of central auditory system are proved to be effective in music training in adulthood, they could be recommended as an appropriate option for adult central auditory processing disorder rehabilitation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of learning to play stringed instruments in adulthood on frequency discrimination by pitch pattern sequence test.Methods: This cross-sectional and non-interventional study was performed on 46 normal hearing subjects aged 20-45 years, 28 non-musicians and 18 musicians who were trained to play music as an adult. They were compared by PPST. The results were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance.Results: There was a significant difference between the average scores of the two groups, the non-musicians and the musicians, for both ears (p<0.001). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the two test results in both groups gender wise (p>0.05).Conclusion: More correct answers of musicians indicated their better frequency discrimination compared to non-musicians, which could be a reason for improvement in the performance of the central auditory system caused by music training even in the verge of adulthood.