Journal of Communication Disorders, Deaf Studies & Hearing Aids
Open Access

In tune with technology: Music perception & appreciation of cochlear implant and hearing aid users

International Conference and Expo on Audiology and Hearing Devices

August 17-18, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Valerie Looi

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Commun Disord Deaf Stud Hearing Aids

Abstract :

It is well accepted that adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients score significantly lower on music perception tests, and rate music to
sound poorer than normally hearing (NH) listeners. However given that CI recipients have a significant sensorineural hearing loss,
are comparisons to NH listeners realistic? And what about hearing aid (HA) users? Music has been shown to contribute to quality of
life, and is often a stimulus that patients consider in rating their satisfaction and outcomes with their hearing device. This presentation
will overview the research comparing the music perception abilities of CI recipients, HA users, and NH listeners. Although HA users
are better that CI recipients at pitch and melody perception tasks, their performance is lower than NH listeners. Further, CI and
HA users score similarly on timbre perception tasks, and CI recipients rate music to sound more pleasant than HA users with equal
levels of hearing loss. These findings suggest that a significant sensorineural hearing loss impacts on music perception, regardless of
whether acoustic or electric hearing is used. The results from recipients using a simultaneous CI and HA will also be discussed, and
the benefit of acoustic stimulation for CI recipients. So, what more could we be doing? Music training programs have been shown
to be beneficial for CI recipients; can they help HA users? The findings of these studies are important for counselling, setting realistic
expectations, and working with patients to help them improve their music listening experiences.