Abstract To provide insight into the behavioral characteristics of people who listen excessively to loud music, the 32-item Northeastern Excessive Music Listening Survey was developed and administered to 90 subjects. Results indicate that 8 of the 90 subjects scored within a range that would suggest the presence of a maladaptive pattern of music-listening behavior similar to that exhibited by substance abusers. Implications for further research and models of treatment are discussed. Killing my hearing with Slayer as I read this.