Music perception and appreciation in trained cochlear implant users : a systematic review.

A cochlear implant is a device designed to improve the hearing thresholds of those with severe- profound hearing loss. Consisting of a microphone, signal processing unit, magnetically-coupled radio-frequency transducer and electrode array a cochlear implant is able to provide electrical stimulation in the cochlea to stimulate nerves in responses to sound. Threshold (T) levels and comfort (C) levels are obtained in order to identify appropriate stimulation levels for quiet and loud sounds. Verification for cochlear implants is achieved using behavioural and subjective testing as well as objective testing. As technology in cochlear implants has developed to enable provision of access to more than just speech, it has become more advantageous and appropriate to assess users with environmental (non-speech) sounds. Modern cochlear implants are able to process and deliver usable stimuli in response to a wide range of non-speech sounds, and among the most important of these is music. Music is a complex organisation of aural stimuli often intended to provoke emotion. Music is a core human experience (Schulkin & Raglan, 2014). Music can demonstrate near-limitless variation in rhythm, pitch, timbre, loudness, texture, duration, and localisation. The ability to process this combination of sonic properties can be thought of as one’s ability to perceive music, and it is this perceptual ability which is often affected by hearing impairment and, in particular, the auditory stimulation provided by cochlear implants. The ability to enjoy music can be thought of as one’s ability to appreciate music. In this thesis, a systematic review is justified in order to evaluate the field of study involved in assessing the effect of training on music perception and appreciation in cochlear implant users. Three studies were included by way of online search with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The studies found significant potential benefit for musical training in CI users. Future research is justified considering the relatively small number of high-quality studies available and the lack of diversity in populations involved. Audiological professionals are advised to continually educate themselves regarding optimal CI surgery techniques, amplification paradigms, musical properties and training programs for music perception and appreciation in order to provide the best outcomes for CI patients