Music as communication and training for children with cochlear implants

Abstract

From the first lullabies of infancy to the ever-present popular music of adolescence, music plays an important role in the lives of children. Because of music’s pervasiveness in every known culture, children will experience it in a variety of forms on a daily basis. To what extent are children who use cochlear implants (CI) able to accurately perceive and enjoy this ubiquitous acoustical sound? Can music be a meaningful and efficacious component of personal, social, educational, and habilitative experiences? This chapter describes (1) those aspects of music most and least effectively conveyed through a CI; (2) comparisons between pediatric CI users, adult CI recipients, and children with normal hearing (NH); (3) variance among pediatric CI users regarding music perception, enjoyment, and participation; (4) the impact of systematic training on music perception and enjoyment; (5) theoretical and empirical evidence regarding transfer of music training to speech and language; and (6) practical suggestions for clinical interventions and optimizing participation in musical experiences.