Abstract
ObjectivesIn this clinical study, stereo perception of music samples and its contribution to music enjoyment in CI users is investigated. It is studied in free field as well as direct audio presentation.Methods20 bilateral and 9 bimodal CI users performed stereo detection tests and music enjoyment ratings. Music was presented either in mono or in stereo in free field or with direct audio presentation. Stereo detection was assessed with a 3-AFC paradigm. Music enjoyment was studied with scale ratings.ResultsFor bilateral CI users, stereo detection increased from 52% correct in free field to 86% with direct audio presentation. Increased music enjoyment with improved stereo detection was obtained. Bimodal CI users could not identify stereo sounds. Music enjoyment did not increase for stereo presentations in bimodal subjects.DiscussionFor bilateral CI users, improved stereo detection might increase music enjoyment with direct audio presentation, which is likely due to bypassing the room acoustics. In bimodal CI users, no clear improvement was found, which is likely attributed due to the different hearing losses and therefore individually different interaural frequency overlaps between the hearing aid and the cochlear implant.ConclusionDirect audio presentation is an efficient method to improve music enjoyment in bilateral CI users.
Highlights
Cochlear implantation allows access to sounds in patients with severe to profound deafness
For bilateral cochlear implant (CI) users, stereo detection increased from 52% correct in free field to 86% with direct audio presentation
Many patients with a cochlear implant (CI) device have near perfect speech perception in quiet [1], performance is significantly reduced in noise [2]
Summary
Cochlear implantation allows access to sounds in patients with severe to profound deafness. Many patients with a cochlear implant (CI) device have near perfect speech perception in quiet [1], performance is significantly reduced in noise [2]. Technological evolution and the expansion of the CI inclusion criteria have resulted in improved speech perception performance [3]. With this improvement in sound perception, music enjoyment has become the goal of many CI users. Whilst rhythm can be accurately detected by CI users with similar performance to normal hearing (NH) listeners [6,7,8], the perception of more complex structures such as melodies and timbre is severely reduced [6, 9, 10, 11]. Though many CI users do report enjoying listening to music, the pleasure is reduced compared to NH listeners [12,13,14,15,16]
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