Evaluation of an interactive music awareness program for cochlear implant recipients

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a prototype interactive music awareness program (IMAP) for adult cochlear implant (CI) users. An unblinded, randomized, crossover design was used. Twenty-one CI users were recruited and allocated to two groups. Group 1 received the IMAP first, followed by a retention of learning phase. Group 2 were given the IMAP after 12 weeks. Participants were instructed to undertake two half-hour sessions per week at home over 12 weeks. Both groups attended appointments at the start, halfway through, and at the end of the trial. At each appointment participants completed tests of speech perception, melodic contour identification and instrument recognition, rated the sound quality of music, and indicated their music listening habits. Sixteen participants completed the study. Following training both groups showed improved instrument recognition abilities and feedback suggests further positive impact on participants’ lives. The findings suggest that the IMAP is beneficial for music perception and in particular, improved instrument recognition

Fit for the frontline? A focus group exploration of auditory tasks carried out by infantry and combat support personnel

In order to preserve their operational effectiveness and ultimately their survival, military personnel must be able to detect important acoustic signals and maintain situational awareness. The possession of sufficient hearing ability to perform job-specific auditory tasks is defined as auditory fitness for duty (AFFD). Pure tone audiometry (PTA) is used to assess AFFD in the UK military; however, it is unclear whether PTA is able to accurately predict performance on job-specific auditory tasks. The aim of the current study was to gather information about auditory tasks carried out by infantry personnel on the frontline and the environment these tasks are performed in. The study consisted of 16 focus group interviews with an average of five participants per group. Eighty British army personnel were recruited from five infantry regiments. The focus group guideline included seven open-ended questions designed to elicit information about the auditory tasks performed on operational duty. Content analysis of the data resulted in two main themes: (1)the auditory tasks personnel are expected to perform and (2) situations where personnel felt their hearing ability was reduced. Auditory tasks were divided into subthemes of sound detection, speech communication and sound localization. Reasons for reduced performance included background noise, hearing protection and attention difficulties. The current study provided an important and novel insight to the complex auditory environment experienced by British infantry personnel and identified 17 auditory tasks carried out by personnel on operational duties. These auditory tasks will be used to inform the development of a functional AFFD test for infantry personnel

From TEMPO+ to OPUS 2: what can music tests tell us about processor upgrades?

Tests for quantifying the music perception abilities of cochlear implant users are currently being developedand trialled at the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre. In addition to measures of speech perception,tests of rhythm, and pitch have been administered to MED-EL C40+ implant users before and after upgradingfrom the TEMPO+ processor with continuous interleaved sampling strategy to the OPUS 2 processor with finestructure processing strategy, with the aims of comparing device performance and evaluating the potential ofmusic perception tests for informing processor upgrades and tuning. Eight experienced adult C40+ implantrecipients performed tests of rhythm and pitch discrimination using the TEMPO+ processor and, after aminimum of 6 weeks acclimatization, using the OPUS 2 processor. Stimuli included piano and sine tonesin two note ranges for the pitch tasks, and drum beats for the rhythm task. Rhythm, pitch, and speechperception scores were comparable for both processors. An effect of note range was observed(z = ?2.52, p = 0.008 (two-tailed), r = ?0.63), which indicated that the higher range of notes used for thepitch tasks was easier for participants than the lower range. Measures of pitch discrimination in differentfrequency ranges further informed changes made to one participant’s map, resulting in improved pitchdiscrimination and speech perception scores. The outcomes of this study demonstrate that musicperception tests can provide important additional measures for tuning cochlear implant parameters andassessing the impact of changes to device type and processing strategy