title: Recognition of music and melody in patients with cochlear implants, using a new programming approach for frequency assignment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Music is a universal, cross-cultural phenomenon. Perception and enjoyment of music are still not solved with current technological objectives of cochlear implants. The objective of this article was to advance the development and validation of a method of programming of cochlear implants that implements a frequency allocation strategy. We compared standard programming vs frequency programming in every subject.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a total of 40 patients with cochlear implants. Each patient was programmed with a optimal version of the standard program, using the Custom Sound Suite 3.2 cochlear platform. Speech tests in quiet were performed using syllable word lists from the protocol for the assessment of hearing in the Spanish language. Patients implanted bilaterally were tested in both ears at the same time. For assessing music listening habits we used the Munich Music Questionnaire and «MACarena»(minimum auditory capability) software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients achieved better results in recognition, instrument tests and tonal scales with frequency programming (P<.005). Likewise, there were better results with frequency programming in recognising harmonics and pitch test (P<.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequency programming achieves better perception and recognition results in patients in comparison with standard programming. Bilateral stimulation patients have better perception of musical patterns and better performance in recognition of tonal scales, harmonics and musical instruments compared with patients with unilateral stimulation. Modification and frequency allocation during programming allows decreased levels of current intensity and increase the dynamic range, which allows mapping of each audio band less obtrusively and improves the quality of representation of the signal.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Hipoacusia, Programa de Implantes Cocleares, Servicio de ORL y PCF, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. Electronic address: jfalgond@gobiernodecanarias.org.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Falcón-González
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Hipoacusia, Programa de Implantes Cocleares, Servicio de ORL y PCF, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borkoski-Barreiro
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Limiñana-Cañal
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Hipoacusia, Programa de Implantes Cocleares, Servicio de ORL y PCF, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos-Macías
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Implant cochlear fitting; Music and cochlear implants; Musical perception; Música e implante coclear; Percepción musical; Programación de implante coclear