M.L. Grasmeder

The MuSIC perception test : a novel battery for testing music perception of cochlear implant users

Abstract This study was undertaken to evaluate the musical sounds in cochlear implants (MuSIC) perception test, created to assess the music-listening abilities of cochlear implant (CI) users. Thirty-one unilateral MED-EL COMBI 40+/PULSARCI100 users and a control group of 67 adults with normal hearing (NH) participated. The MuSIC test comprises six objective and two subjective modules employing approximately 2800 musical files recorded from non-synthesized instruments. A subset was used for comparing CI and NH participants’ results. CI and NH participants performed significantly differently on: pitch discrimination, melody discrimination, chord discrimination, instrument detection, and instrument identification. No significant difference in performance was seen on the subtests of rhythm discrimination or dissonance rating and emotion rating. The MuSIC test was found to be a valuable tool for assessing music perception in CI users and NH participants, whether investigating one aspect of music perception in depth or conducting a broad survey of music perception.

Music activities and responses of young cochlear implant recipients.

Abstract Objective. The development of auditory receptive skills and spoken language is often delayed in children who use cochlear implants, which may affect their appreciation of and responses to music. This in turn may be interpreted as disinterest in music. A questionnaire was developed to determine whether differences in exposure and responses to music exist between young cochlear implant recipients and their normally hearing peers. Design. The questionnaire was developed by a multidisciplinary team and distributed to parents of preschool children with normal hearing and to parents of preschool children who had been implanted at least one year prior. Study sample. The cochlear implant group comprised 23 children and was gender and age matched (within ±2 months) to a group of children with normal hearing. Results & Conclusions. Young cochlear implant recipients receive similar exposure to audiovisual music media, parental singing and musical instruments at home. However, the data suggest that they receive less exposure to childrens music presented without visual stimuli. Parents also reported less sophisticated responses to music for this group. The findings of this study have important implications concerning the provision of age-appropriate music habilitation materials and activities for young cochlear implant recipients. Sumario Objetivo. El desarrollo de habilidades para la recepción auditiva y para el lenguaje hablado, se retrasa frecuentemente en niños que usan implantes cocleares, lo que puede afectar su apreciación y sus respuestas hacia la música. Esto a su vez, puede ser interpretado como desinterés en la música. Se desarrolló un cuestionario para determinar si existen diferencias en la exposición y en las respuestas a la música entre usuarios pequeños de implante coclear y sus pares normo-oyentes. Diseño. Se desarrolló el cuestionario por un equipo multidisciplinario y se distribuyó a padres de preescolares normo-oyentes y a padres de preescolares implantados por lo menos un año antes. Muestra de estudio. El grupo de implantados fue de 23 niños, pareados por género y edad (rango de ±2 meses) con un grupo de niños normo-oyentes. Resultados y Conclusiones. Los niños implantados recibieron una exposición similar a la de la música por medios audiovisuales, al canto de los padres y a instrumentos musicales en el hogar. No obstante, los datos sugieren que fueron menos expuestos a la música para niños, presentada sin estímulos visuales. Los padres también reportaron respuestas menos sofisticadas a la música en este grupo. Los hallazgos de este estudio tienen importantes implicaciones que se relacionan con la provisión de materiales y actividades para la habilitación musical, apropiados para la edad, dirigidos a niños pequeños con implante coclear.

From TEMPO+ to OPUS 2: What can music tests tell us about processor upgrades?

Abstract Tests for quantifying the music perception abilities of cochlear implant users are currently being developed and trialled at the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre. In addition to measures of speech perception, tests of rhythm, and pitch have been administered to MED-EL C40+ implant users before and after upgrading from the TEMPO+ processor with continuous interleaved sampling strategy to the OPUS 2 processor with fine structure processing strategy, with the aims of comparing device performance and evaluating the potential of music perception tests for informing processor upgrades and tuning. Eight experienced adult C40+ implant recipients performed tests of rhythm and pitch discrimination using the TEMPO+ processor and, after a minimum of 6 weeks acclimatization, using the OPUS 2 processor. Stimuli included piano and sine tones in two note ranges for the pitch tasks, and drum beats for the rhythm task. Rhythm, pitch, and speech perception scores were comparable for both processors. An effect of note range was observed (z = −2.52, p = 0.008 (two-tailed), r = −0.63), which indicated that the higher range of notes used for the pitch tasks was easier for participants than the lower range. Measures of pitch discrimination in different frequency ranges further informed changes made to one participants map, resulting in improved pitch discrimination and speech perception scores. The outcomes of this study demonstrate that music perception tests can provide important additional measures for tuning cochlear implant parameters and assessing the impact of changes to device type and processing strategy.

Participatory design of a music aural rehabilitation programme

Abstract Objectives Many cochlear implant (CI) users wish to enjoy music but are dissatisfied by its quality as perceived through their implant. Although there is evidence to suggest that training can improve CI users’ perception and appraisal of music, availability of interactive music-based aural rehabilitation for adults is limited. In response to this need, an ‘Interactive Music Awareness Programme’ (IMAP) was developed with and for adult CI users. Methods An iterative design and evaluation approach was used. The process began with identification of user needs through consultations, followed by use of mock-up applications in workshops. Feedback from these were used to develop the prototype IMAP; a programme of 24 interactive sessions, enabling users to create and manipulate music. The prototype IMAP was subsequently evaluated in a home trial with 16 adult CI users over a period of 12 weeks. Results Overall ratings for the prototype IMAP were positive and indicated that it met users’ needs. Quantitative and qualitative feedback on the sessions and software in the prototype IMAP were used to identify aspects of the programme that worked well and aspects that required improvement. The IMAP was further developed in response to users’ feedback and is freely available online. Conclusions The participatory design approach used in developing the IMAP was fundamental in ensuring its relevance, and regular feedback from end users in each phase of development proved valuable for early identification of issues. Observations and feedback from end users supported a holistic approach to music aural rehabilitation.

Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations

Abstract Objective: An experiment was conducted to investigate the possibility that speech perception could be improved for some cochlear implant (CI) users by adjustment of the frequency allocation to the electrodes, following assessment of pitch perception along the electrode array. Study sample: Thirteen adult CI users with MED-EL devices participated in the study. Design: Pitch perception was assessed for individual CI electrode pairs using the Pitch Contour Test (PCT), giving information on pitch discrimination and pitch ranking for adjacent electrodes. Sentence perception in noise was also assessed with ten different frequency allocations, including the default. Results: Pitch perception was found to be poorer for both discrimination and ranking scores at either end of the electrode array. A significant effect of frequency allocation was found for sentence scores [F(4.24,38.2) = 7.14, p < 0.001] and a significant interaction between sentence score and PCT ranking score for basal electrodes was found [F(4.24,38.2) = 2.95, p = 0.03]. Participants with poorer pitch perception at the basal end had poorer scores for some allocations with greater basal shift. Conclusions: The results suggest that speech perception could be improved for CI users by assessment of pitch perception using the PCT and subsequent adjustment of pitch-related stimulation parameters.