Evaluation of a Stereo Music Preprocessing Scheme for Cochlear Implant Users

Abstract Background: Although for most cochlear implant (CI) users good speech understanding is reached (at least in quiet environments), the perception and the appraisal of music are generally unsatisfactory. Purpose: The improvement in music appraisal was evaluated in CI participants by using a stereo music preprocessing scheme implemented on a take-home device, in a comfortable listening environment. The preprocessing allowed adjusting the balance among vocals/bass/drums and other instruments, and was evaluated for different genres of music. The correlation between the preferred settings and the participants’ speech and pitch detection performance was investigated. Research Design: During the initial visit preceding the take-home test, the participants’ speech-in-noise perception and pitch detection performance were measured, and a questionnaire about their music involvement was completed. The take-home device was provided, including the stereo music preprocessing scheme and seven playlists with six songs each. The participants were asked to adjust the balance by means of a turning wheel to make the music sound most enjoyable, and to repeat this three times for all songs. Study Sample: Twelve postlingually deafened CI users participated in the study. Data Collection and Analysis: The data were collected by means of a take-home device, which preserved all the preferred settings for the different songs. Statistical analysis was done with a Friedman test (with post hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank test) to check the effect of “Genre.” The correlations were investigated with Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients. Results: All participants preferred a balance significantly different from the original balance. Differences across participants were observed which could not be explained by perceptual abilities. An effect of “Genre” was found, showing significantly smaller preferred deviation from the original balance for Golden Oldies compared to the other genres. Conclusions: The stereo music preprocessing scheme showed an improvement in music appraisal with complex music and hence might be a good tool for music listening, training, or rehabilitation for CI users.