The effects of musical and linguistic components in recognition of real-world musical excerpts by cochlear implant recipients and normal-hearing adults.
BACKGROUND
Cochlear implants (CI) are effective in transmitting salient features of speech, especially in quiet, but current CI technology is not well suited in transmission of key musical structures (e.g., melody, timbre). It is possible, however, that sung lyrics, which are commonly heard in real-world music may provide acoustical cues that support better music perception.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine how accurately adults who use CIs (n = 87) and those with normal hearing (NH) (n = 17) are able to recognize real-world music excerpts based upon musical and linguistic (lyrics) cues.


RESULTS
CI recipients were significantly less accurate than NH listeners on recognition of real-world music with or, in particular, without lyrics; however, CI recipients whose devices transmitted acoustic plus electric stimulation were more accurate than CI recipients reliant upon electric stimulation alone (particularly items without linguistic cues). Recognition by CI recipients improved as a function of linguistic cues.


METHODS
Participants were tested on melody recognition of complex melodies (pop, country, & classical styles). Results were analyzed as a function of: hearing status and history, device type (electric only or acoustic plus electric stimulation), musical style, linguistic and musical cues, speech perception scores, cognitive processing, music background, age, and in relation to self-report on listening acuity and enjoyment. Age at time of testing was negatively correlated with recognition performance.


CONCLUSIONS
These results have practical implications regarding successful participation of CI users in music-based activities that include recognition and accurate perception of real-world songs (e.g., reminiscence, lyric analysis, & listening for enjoyment).
School of Music, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Iowa Cochlear Implant Clinical Research Center, The University of Iowa, USA.
Kate
K
Gfeller
Dingfeng
D
Jiang
Jacob J
JJ
Oleson
Virginia
V
Driscoll
Carol
C
Olszewski
John F
JF
Knutson
Christopher
C
Turner
Bruce
B
Gantz
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007803:Language Arts; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D010898:Pitch Perception; D021641:Recognition, Psychology