Cochlear implant users differ significantly from their normal hearing peers
when it comes to perception of music. Several studies have shown that
structural features – such as rhythm, timbre, and pitch – are transmitted less
accurately through an implant. However, we cannot predict personal
enjoyment of music solely as a function of accuracy of perception. But can
music be pleasant with a cochlear implant at all? Our aim here was to gather
information of both music enjoyment and listening habits before the onset of
hearing loss and post-operation from a large, representative sample of
Danish recipients. A hundred and sixty three adult cochlear implant users
(101 females, 62 males) completed a survey containing questions about
musical background, listening habits, and music enjoyment. The results
indicate a wide range of success with music, but in general, the results show
that the CI users enjoy music less post-implantation than prior to their
hearing loss. Nevertheless, a large majority of CI listeners either prefer
music over not hearing music at all or find music as pleasant as they recall it
before their hearing loss, or more so.