Real-world Music Exposure Predicts Music Enjoyment in Cochlear Implant Users

Monday, October 19, 2026

1:36 PM - 1:42 PM PT

Location: 511AC

Presenting Author(s)

Nadine M. Khoury, AB

Medical Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Brooklyn, New York, United States

Co-Author(s)

IA

Isaac L. Alter, AB

Medical Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, NY, United States
RS

Rhea Shah, AB

Medical Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, United States
RW

Ronald Wang, MD

Resident Physician
Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
MK

Megan Kuhlmey, AuD

Assistant Professor of Audiology
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, United States
MD

Meghan Despotidis, AuD

Assistant Professor of Audiology
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, United States

Senior Author(s)

Anil K. Lalwani, MD

Professor of Otolaryngology
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, NY, United States

Disclosure(s):

Nadine M. Khoury, AB:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Cochlear implant (CI) users experience reduced music perception. While speech therapy has been shown to augment CI rehabilitation, benefit of regular music exposure remains understudied. Cochlear™ CIs provide objective, longitudinal measures of daily auditory scene exposure, enabling unbiased assessment of real-world listening behavior. This study evaluates the association between consistent music exposure and music enjoyment in CI users.

Methods: A music enjoyment survey incorporating 10 previously validated musical excerpts was administered to unilateral and bilateral CI users. Datalogs for five auditory scenes were extracted: Speech, Speech-in-Noise, Quiet, Music, and Noise, and correlated with two enjoyment outcome measures—valence range and arousal range—using Holm’s correction for multiple comparisons. Normality was confirmed with Shapiro–Wilk testing. Auditory scenes demonstrating significant correlations, along with CI configuration were included in multivariable linear regression analyses.

Results: 23 patients met inclusion criteria: 7/23 (30.4%) bilateral CI users, 8/23 (34.8%) bimodal users, and 8/23 (34.8%) with single-sided deafness. Mean age was 55.8±18.2 years; 65.2% were women. Mean datalog duration was 11.3±12.5 months. Percentage of time spent in the Music scene was significantly associated with increased arousal range (r = 0.53, adjusted p = 0.038) and showed a positive trend with valence range. Time spent in the Speech (quiet) scene was significantly correlated with both arousal (r = 0.60, adjusted p = 0.014) and valence ranges (r =0.68, adjusted p = 0.002). Both scenes remained significant in multivariable regression models.

Conclusions: Consistent longitudinal exposure to both music and quiet speech are associated with improved music enjoyment in CI users. These findings support established speech-based rehabilitation and suggest that brief, regular music exposure may provide a valuable foundation for music-focused CI rehabilitation strategies.