gms | German Medical Science

81st Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

12.05. - 16.05.2010, Wiesbaden

Perception of music after cochlear-implantation

Meeting Abstract

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 81st Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Wiesbaden, 12.-16.05.2010. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2010. Doc10hno082

doi: 10.3205/10hno082, urn:nbn:de:0183-10hno0823

Published: July 6, 2010

© 2010 Willenborg et al.
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Outline

Text

Music plays an important role in all cultures and improves the quality of life in the normal hearing population and in patients with hearing loss. With increasing hearing loss the impaired perception of music is perceived as a handicap and may lead to social isolation. Improvement of the speech processing strategies of cochlear implants speech perception and quality of life were substantially improved and thus successful cochlear implantation increasingly generates the desire to enjoy music.

In the literature the subjective perception of music following cochlear implantation is recognized as an important topic.

In our study subjective music perception before and after cochlear implantation was measured in 100 patients by a questionnaire. Items measured were frequency of music listening, the capability to discriminate different rhythms, music styles, instruments and lyrics, and the use of hearing aids in daily routine.

The results showed an improvement in the perception of music after cochlear implantation. There was a correlation between preimplantation music listening habits and the perception of music after implantation. Overall, an improved ability to discriminate music instruments and music styles as well as the recognition of melodies and lyrics was revealed.