Enhanced auditory processing and cognitive flexibility associated with musical training have led to the proposition of preimplant musicianship, defined as musical training and/or experience before cochlear implantation (CI), as a potential modifier of outcomes following CI....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Current scoping review evidence is too preliminary and heterogeneous to recommend musical training as a standard pre-implant intervention; audiologists should monitor emerging literature but no change to candidacy evaluation or pre-implant counseling protocols is warranted at this time.
Understanding whether pre-implant musicianship confers a rehabilitative advantage could reshape pre-surgical counseling and post-implant auditory training programs for cochlear implant recipients.
- 01Scoping review synthesizes available evidence on pre-implant musical training and cochlear implant outcomes.
- 02Primary outcomes of interest include post-implant speech perception and music appreciation.
- 03Musicianship may engage neural plasticity pathways relevant to auditory rehabilitation.
- 04Evidence base is limited and heterogeneous; no strong conclusions can be drawn yet.
- 05Findings relevant to cochlear implant candidacy counseling and pre-implant rehabilitation planning.
Pre-implant musical training may influence speech perception outcomes following cochlear implantation.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42508063
- DOI
- 10.1097/MAO.0000000000005002.
- Journal
- Otology & Neurotology
- Publication type
- review
- Evidence level
- 2a
- Population
- Cochlear implant recipients with documented pre-implant musical training or musicianship
- Intervention
- Pre-implant musicianship / musical training
- Comparator
- Cochlear implant recipients without pre-implant musical training
Primary outcomes
Post-implant speech perception; Music appreciation and perception post-implantation