Music training with a cochlear implant

6 tips for more listening pleasure and sound comprehension

Music therapy after a cochlear implant plays an important role on the way back to hearing. Music training with a cochlear implant is not only essential for enjoying music again, it also promotes speech comprehension and general hearing development.

Bianca Wirthner is a music therapist and has been helping people with rehabilitation after cochlear implantation for many years.

1. integrate music training at an early stage

Immediately after implantation, the focus is often on speech training. However, it is worth starting music training with a cochlear implant at the same time. Start with pieces of music that have a clear and distinct rhythm, as this is usually perceived first. Afterwards, the recognition of bass, melody and vocals will gradually develop. The important thing is: patience pays off. Perception improves steadily.

2. choose a quiet environment

A quiet environment is crucial in order to be able to concentrate fully on the music. Music training with a cochlear implant initially works best without disturbing background noise. With regular practice, hearing perception also improves in louder environments.

3. start with well-known songs

Familiar melodies give you confidence. Start your music training with songs that you already knew before the implantation. Pieces with only one instrument are ideal. Gradually work your way up to more complex arrangements. As soon as you feel confident, listen to new songs, preferably several times in succession. Repetition helps to build up new sound patterns.

4. attend concerts

Live concerts are not only musically enriching, but also offer visual stimuli that support listening. Music is also more enjoyable in company and has a motivating effect. Experiencing music instead of just listening to it gives you a holistic workout.

5 Train the CI ear

If you have a cochlear implant in one ear, you should specifically train the implant ear. This works by muffling the better-hearing ear with headphones or an earplug. Another option is direct streaming: music is transmitted directly to the audio processor.

6. use free tools: Meludia

The online platform Meludia offers an effective method for music training with a cochlear implant. It contains targeted exercises of varying levels of difficulty to train rhythm, pitch and sound perception. For MED-EL users, Meludia is available free of charge for 12 months.