Music Appreciation in Prelingually Deafened Patients: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Audiology and Otolaryngology
• Neuroscience
• Music Therapy

Background:

• Music appreciation in cochlear implant (CI) users is influenced by factors like age at deafness onset.
• Prelingually deafened individuals have unique expectations and experiences with music compared to postlingually deafened individuals.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for optimizing music perception in CI recipients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing music appreciation in prelingually deafened cochlear implant (CI) recipients.
• To explore strategies for enhancing music appreciation in this specific patient population.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature on music and CI use.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review of relevant literature was conducted.
• Databases searched included PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• Studies were included if they discussed music appreciation characteristics and improvement strategies for CI users with prelingual hearing loss, assessed using MINORS criteria.

Main Results:

• Thirty-two studies involving 599 prelingually deafened CI users were analyzed.
• While baseline music appreciation was higher, prelingually deafened CI users showed poorer identification of melody, instruments, and songs.
• Rhythmic elements are particularly important for music appreciation in this group.
• Earlier implantation age and post-implantation music training correlated with improved musical element identification and appreciation.

Conclusions:

• Music perception and appreciation differ significantly between prelingually deafened CI users and those with prior acoustic hearing experience.
• Early cochlear implantation and dedicated music training are key interventions to improve the identification of complex musical elements and overall music appreciation.
• These findings highlight the importance of tailored auditory rehabilitation programs for prelingually deafened CI users.