Existing music questionnaires have shown that postlingually deafened adult cochlear implant (CI)
users generally find music to be less enjoyable following implantation. However, they did not
investigate, in detail, which factors influence CI users’ music listening enjoyment, nor did they
examine the approach a music training program should take. In order to obtain such information, a
questionnaire, the University of Canterbury Music Listening Questionnaire (UCMLQ), was
developed. The UCMLQ investigated: (i) the effect of implantation on CI users’ music listening
enjoyment (determined by comparing the levels of enjoyment experienced post-implantation to prehearing
loss, and just before implantation); (ii) the effect of a hearing aid in the unimplanted ear on
CI users’ music perception and appreciation; (iii) the effect of timbre on music listening enjoyment
whereby respondents will be asked to rate the pleasantness and naturalness of common instruments
and voices, and also, give ratings on the instruments’ sound quality based on what they expect these
instruments to sound to a person with normal hearing; (iv) whether respondents have a preference
for a particular musical style (e.g. Country and Western, Jazz, Classical, etc); (v) whether
respondents’ have a preference for, firstly, low-pitched versus high-pitched instruments/voices;
secondly, music with instruments-only, voice-only, or both instruments and voice; and lastly, music
with smaller number of performers versus greater number of performers; (vi) practical methods or
‘tips’ for enhancing everyday music listening enjoyment were collated; and finally, (vii) respondents
were asked for their views and opinions on the content and logistics of a ‘take-home’ MTP for
improving their music listening enjoyment. One-hundred postlingually deafened adult CI users,
ranging in age from 18 to 88 years (mean = 62.1, SD = 17.1), completed the UCMLQ. All
respondents used a Nucleus CI24 implant and the ACE speech processing strategy. Results showed
that following implantation, respondents generally found music to be less enjoyable but they also
preferred certain types of instruments and music: (i) low-frequency instruments over high-frequency
instruments; (ii) certain instruments (e.g. the guitar) over others (e.g. brass instruments); (iii) smaller
numbers of performers as opposed to larger numbers; (iv) Country and Western music as opposed to
Pop/Rock, Jazz, Classical-small group, and Classical-orchestra; and (v) music with a slow
rhythm/beat, and words. A comparison of the ratings given by CI and Hearing Aid (CI+HA) users
and CI-only users also revealed that CI+HA users felt that they were significantly more able to
follow the melody-line of musical styles, identify these styles, and they also rated musical styles to
sound significantly ‘more normal’ than the CI-only users did. However, no statistically significant
difference was found between the two groups’ (CI+HA users versus CI-only users) ratings for
common instrumental sounds. In regards to respondents’ interest in partaking in a ‘take-home’
music training program (MTP), 54% of respondents stated that they would be interested in
undertaking one. Respondents also indicated that the MTP should focus on improving their ability to
recognise tunes, in particular, tunes known before implantation, and commonly-known tunes, and
the MTP should offer a wide range of musical styles. In addition, training sessions should be of 30-
minutes duration, 2 times per week, and the MTP should come in the form of a DVD with subtitles.
Overall, this study collected information which not only helps us to better understand CI users’
appreciation of music but also could be used in the shaping and development of a future MTP.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:canterbury.ac.nz/oai:ir.canterbury.ac.nz:10092/1584 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | She, Jennifer Heep Kwan |
| Publisher | University of Canterbury. Department of Communication Disorders |
| Source Sets | University of Canterbury |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic thesis or dissertation, Text |
| Rights | Copyright Jennifer Heep Kwan She, http://library.canterbury.ac.nz/thesis/etheses_copyright.shtml |
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