Is There Benefit of Music Training Following Cochlear Implantation?

BACKGROUND

The experience of listening to music changes drastically after cochlear implantation, resulting in decreased music perception and enjoyment for most cochlear implant (CI) users. This reduction in music perception is largely due to decreased pitch, harmony, and timbre recognition, as well as decreased melody contour appraisal; perception of rhythm is largely preserved. While post-implantation speech training by speech–language pathologists is standard practice and is seen as essential to maximize the patient’s ability to process and understand speech, structured music rehabilitation following CI activation is not uniformly available or offered. Given the well-known effects of music listening and music enjoyment on quality of life among both postlingually and prelingually or early deafened individuals, the potential efficacy of music rehabilitation strategies for patients with varying hearing histories warrants increased attention. In this best practice, we seek to determine the benefit of music training in adult CI recipients.

BEST PRACTICE

Post-implantation music training has significant benefits in enhancing music perception in CI users, specifically in music instrument recognition, melodic contour identification, and emotion discernment; younger age, longer duration of music training, and bilateral CI use are positive predictors of success. Music training may also bring benefits for speech perception, though further research is needed in this area to elucidate the conflicting results of existing studies. Given the preponderance of existing evidence showing benefit, structured music rehabilitation should be implemented alongside speech therapy following cochlear implantation.