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Study: Music Boosts Vocabulary Skills in Children

1/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Children who play musical instruments have stronger vocabulary skills than non-musical peers, according to a study in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Assal Habibi of the University of Southern California led the research, analyzing data from over 5,000 children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study).
The study notes limitations including reliance on parental reports of music participation and its observational design.

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Story summary

Children who play musical instruments have stronger vocabulary skills than non-musical peers, according to a study in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Assal Habibi of the University of Southern California led the research, analyzing data from over 5,000 children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study).
The study notes limitations including reliance on parental reports of music participation and its observational design.