I listened to part of a broadcast on CBC radio yesterday about how studies (focusing specifically those at Ryerson University's SMART Lab) are being done that show music can help people hear better. It has been known for some time that musicians have better hearing later in life and studies are showing that joining a choir or learning an instrument can benefit anyone. The explanation is that following the variations in pitch and rhythm "exercise" the brain pathways that help us follow speech in noisy environments. Very interesting!
I'm going to be more proactive about getting Dad to listen to music. He enjoys it a lot and used to listen a lot more before this last hospitalization and rehab. That situation changed him and really took a lot out of him.
Thanks for sharing this very helpful information.