PP811 - The Impact of Time: Post-Implantation on Music Quality of Life in Adult CI Recipients

Abstract:
Music perception positively correlates with quality of life (QoL) in cochlear implant (CI) recipients. However, it is unclear how music perception and engagement change over time. This study examines how music-related QoL changes over time, and its relationship among demographic and audiologic variables in CI recipients. Eighty-six adult CI recipients completed a music related quality-of-life questionnaire (MuRQoL) twice post-activation. MuRQoL scores did not change significantly over time, nor were they correlated with audiologic or demographic variables. Clinicians should consider avenues for improved QoL beyond traditional measures during CI management, including patient goals regarding music- regardless of audiologic profile.

Summary:
Introduction
Cochlear implant (CI) signal processing prioritizes speech, but improved speech perception may not reflect the frequency range and complexity of other signals such as music. Moreover, speech perception performance does not have a direct correspondence to generic or condition-specific metrics of quality of life in adults with CIs (McRackan et al., 2022). This pattern contrasts with the positive correlation between music perception and quality of life in CI recipients (Fuller et al., 2022). However, music perception alone does not fully inform music engagement; CI recipients with poor music perception also often enjoy engaging with music (Fowler 2021). Furthermore, little is known about how music engagement and enjoyment change over time for CI recipients after implantation. This study examines a) how music-related quality of life changes over time post-implantation in adult CI users; and b) the relationship among demographic and audiologic variables with music-related quality of life.

Methods
Participants included 86 adult CI recipients (18-88 years, M = 60 years) with a mean CI activation age of 55 years. Sixty-one percent of participants reported they had formal music training. Participants completed a music-focused instrument (Music Related Quality of Life, MuRQoL) at two time points, averaging 11 months apart (SD = 2.24), which assess frequency and importance of self-reported music engagement and perception. Participants had a mean duration of CI experience at the first time point averaging 12.6 years (SD = 2.9 years).

Results
There was not a significant difference between the T1 and T2 time points for the importance of music engagement and perception (p = 0.22) or frequency of music engagement and perception (p = 0.97). Furthermore, no demographic or audiologic-based variables (ie. chronologic age, age at CI, duration of CI experience) significantly correlated with MuRQoL scores at either time point, though adult CI recipients with formal music training had higher means scores for frequent music engagement and importance of music versus those without formal training.

Conclusions
There was no change in music-related quality of life over time in adult CI recipients, nor was music-related quality of life related to duration of CI experience. These results indicate that the self-reported importance of music and the amount individuals engage with music remain stable over time and supports previous findings that music perception may not fully inform music engagement in adults with CIs. This highlights the need for clinicians working with adult CI recipients to consider individual needs during CI management, as patients may have different relationships and goals regarding auditory signals beyond speech perception regardless of their audiologic profile.