Clinical assessment of music perception in cochlear implant listeners.
OBJECTIVE
Cochlear implants (CI) have provided tremendous benefit for speech recognition in quiet for patients with severe and profound hearing impairment, but implant users still have great difficulty perceiving music. The purpose of this study was to develop a test to quantify music perception by CI listeners in a clinically practical manner that could be standardized for administration at any implant center.


METHODS
Prospective convenience sample.


METHODS
Hearing research center at an academic hospital.


METHODS
Eight CI listeners, including 5 men and 3 women with implant experience ranging from 0.5 to 6 years, participated in this study. They represented a variety of implant devices and strategies.


METHODS
Administration of the Clinical Assessment of Music Perception test in a standardized sound field.


METHODS
Music perception was assessed using a computerized test comprising pitch direction discrimination, melody identification, and timbre identification. The pitch subtest used a 2-alternative forced-choice adaptive procedure to determine a threshold interval for discrimination of complex pitch direction change. The melody and timbre subtests assessed recognition of 12 isochronous melodies and 8 musical instruments, respectively.


RESULTS
Testing demonstrated a broad range of perceptual accuracy on all 3 subtests. Test duration averaged less than 45 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical Assessment of Music Perception is an efficient computerized test that may be used to measure 3 different aspects of music perception in CI users in a standardized and clinically practical manner.
Nimmons
Grace L
GL
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa, USA. gnimmons@gmail.com
Kang
Robert S
RS
Drennan
Ward R
WR
Longnion
Jeff
J
Ruffin
Chad
C
Worman
Tina
T
Yueh
Bevan
B
Rubenstien
Jay T
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome