Development of the Musi-CI Training, A Musical Listening Training for Cochlear Implant Users: A Participatory Action...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Music Therapy
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Cochlear implants (CI) restore speech understanding but often fail to improve music perception for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss.
• Music enjoyment is a significant challenge for many CI users, leading to avoidance of musical activities.
• Existing CI rehabilitation often overlooks the specific needs and challenges related to music processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the Musi-CI training course, aimed at reducing music aversion and enhancing music enjoyment in cochlear implant users.
• To investigate the impact of targeted music listening skills training on the overall auditory perception and social participation of CI users.
• To create a user-centered music training program through participatory action research (PAR) involving CI users, musicians, and rehabilitation professionals.

Main Methods:

• A consortium developed the Musi-CI training using participatory action research (PAR) with 37 CI users over three 3-month cycles.
• Each cycle included eight training sessions incorporating questionnaires, observations, and focus group interviews for continuous feedback.
• The training program featured exercises for attention, working memory, rhythm and beat perception, timbre discrimination, and pitch/melodic contour recognition, including a Melody Game.

Main Results:

• 86% of participants completed the training, with a large majority reporting increased music appreciation.
• Participants experienced enhanced social participation in musical settings and noted a positive impact on general auditory perception.
• The training program successfully addressed music listening skills, self-efficacy, and self-motivation among CI users.

Conclusions:

• The Musi-CI training program is effective in improving music enjoyment and appreciation for cochlear implant users.
• Targeted music listening interventions can positively influence social engagement and overall auditory perception in CI recipients.
• Participatory action research is a valuable approach for developing effective rehabilitation tools for CI users, addressing specific quality-of-life aspects like music perception.