Developing a music programme for preschool children with cochlear implants

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Music Therapy
• Pediatric Rehabilitation

Background:

• Music perception presents significant challenges for pediatric cochlear implant (CI) users.
• Early and structured musical engagement can enhance auditory development in young CI recipients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, implement, and evaluate a music training program, Musical EARS®, for preschool CI users.
• To create a monitoring tool for assessing progress within family-centered habilitation.
• To publish findings on music training effectiveness for CI users.

Main Methods:

• A music program (Musical EARS®) focusing on singing, auditory recognition, and rhythmic response was designed.
• The program was implemented over 18 months with 25 pediatric CI users across three age/ability groups.
• A hierarchical Evaluation Form was used to track performance in musical activities.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in mean total scores were observed across all participant groups.
• Musical EARS® participation enhanced both children's and parents' engagement and enjoyment.
• Score improvements correlated positively with the duration of CI use.

Conclusions:

• The Musical EARS® program effectively enhanced the musical experience for pediatric CI users.
• The study validated the program's content and the hierarchical evaluation tool.
• Systematic music training is recommended for prelingually deafened CI users to foster skill acquisition.