Cochlear Implant Patients Still Enjoy Music After Implantation

Newswise — Cochlear implants, which restore hearing in profoundly deaf patients, also allow many recipients to hear and enjoy music, significantly increasing their quality of life (QOL), according to a new study.

The findings, presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Washington, DC, indicate that while implant recipients experience a significant decrease in their listening habits, about half still enjoy music. In the results of a questionnaire administered to 52 cochlear implant recipients, researchers discovered 38 percent of respondents listened to music more than two hours a week, with 52 percent saying they still enjoyed music post-implantation.

Implant recipients who indicated the quality of sound through their implant was better also had higher results in the quality-of-life questionnaire.

It remains unclear whether spending more time listening to music makes the experience more pleasant. The authors believe these findings will lead to a greater emphasis on improving the quality of sound that cochlear implants allow, and therefore the quality of life in implant recipients.

Title: Music Perception and QOL Following Cochlear Implantation Authors: Luis Lassaletta, MD, Alejandro Castro, MD, Rosa-Maria Perez-Mora, MD, Marta Bastarrica, Belén Herrán, Lorena Sanz Lopez, Javier Gavilan, MDDate: Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 9:02 AM - 9:10 AM

Information for the Media: The AAO-HNS Annual Meeting newsroom will be located in Registration East, Street Level of the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. Hours of operation: Saturday, September 15, 12 PM to 5 PM; Sunday - Tuesday, September 16 -18, 7:30 AM to 5 PM; and Wednesday, September 19, 7:30 AM to 2PM. The newsroom serves as a work space for credentialed members of the media and credentialed public relations staff. The newsroom is managed and staffed by the AAO-HNS Communications Unit. Please see the AAO-HNS website for media credentialing requirements for the event - http://www.entnet.org/ent-press/online_reg.cfm.

About the AAO-HNSThe American Academy of Otolaryngology " Head and Neck Surgery (http://www.entnet.org), one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's mission: "Working for the Best Ear, Nose, and Throat Care."