Mary Grasmeder

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Music Appreciation and Cochlear Implants

• Mary Grasmeder
• NCIUA 21 June 2008

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Todays talk

• Cochlear implant processing and music
• Therapy available
• Tips for listening to music

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A few technical difficulties

• Music is often very complicated
• Many sounds are heard at the same time
• Normally hearing ear is able to pick up very tiny
  differences in notes can tell when a singer is
  out of tune
• Also able to recognise a whole range of different
  instruments, even those that sound similar
• Can recognise different chords and if they have
  been played correctly
• Can do many of these things all at the same time

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Technical difficulties

• Cochlear implants normally stimulate one
  electrode at a time
• The information transmitted has to be limited
• Until recently, most processing strategies
  eliminated information important for music
  temporal fine structure
• Many patients found it difficult to hear small
  pitch differences as a result
• Temporal fine structure introduced in some
  devices recently but still some difficulties
  remain with processing music

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What make of Cochlear implant do you have?

• Advanced Bionics (Clarion)
• Cochlear (Nucleus)
• Med-El
• Other

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Music appointments in Southampton

• In Southampton we now offer music appointments
  for adult CI users who are interested in
  listening to music
• Mixture of assessment, feedback and tips for
  listening to music
• Developing a demonstration package to help people
  try things for themselves

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Do you listen to music regularly with your
cochlear implant?

• Yes
• No

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Tip 1

• Start with music that you know well. Your memory
  of the music will help you to fill in any gaps in
  what you hear.

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Demonstration 1

• You will hear two pieces of music, both written
  for piano and orchestra. In which piece can you
  hear the piano most clearly?

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In which piece could you hear the piano most
clearly?

• Piece 1
• Piece 2

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Demonstration 1 Whats the difference?

• Piece 1 was a piano concerto written by Mozart in
  1785
• Piece 2 was a piano concerto written by
  Shostakovich in 1957

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Tip 2

• Simple music is easier to hear with a cochlear
  implant than very complicated music. Some people
  start with nursery rhymes or simple folk songs,
  before trying more complex things.
• There has been a tendency for music to become
  more complicated over the years, both for
  classical and pop music. Sometimes older music
  is easier to listen to than modern music.

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Are you familiar with the song The Teddy Bears
Picnic?

• Yes
• No

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Demonstration 2

• The next demonstration uses The Teddy Bears
  Picnic.
• You will hear two short clips of the piece. In
  which can you hear the tune most clearly?

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In which clip could you hear the tune most
clearly?

• Clip 1
• Clip 2

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Demonstration 2 Whats the difference?

• Clip 1 melody prominent
• Clip 2 rhythm prominent

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Tip 3

• Cochlear implants often process rhythms better
  than melodies. Try listening to music that
  includes one or more of the following
• A simple rhythm e.g. Christmas carols such as O
  little town of Bethlehem
• A repetitive or predictable rhythm. Songs with
  choruses are often like this
• A strong beat. Try music that you can dance to.

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Demonstration 3

• Now you will hear the tune of the Teddy Bears
  Picnic again, in two separate clips. In which
  one can you hear it most easily?

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In which clip could you hear the tune most
clearly?

• Clip 1
• Clip 2

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Demonstration 3 Whats the difference?

• Clip 1 several instruments are playing the tune
• Clip 2 only the piano is playing

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Tip 4

• Listening to one or two instruments is easier
  than listening to lots of instruments at the same
  time, even if they are playing the same tune.

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Tip 5

• Music can be part of a social activity. Taking
  part with other people can make listening more
  fun. Try dancing for example.

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Demonstration 4

• You will hear the same clip played on 3 different
  instruments. Can you identify them?

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Instrument 1 what was it?

• Violin
• Piano
• Drum
• Clarinet
• Flute
• Guitar
• Trumpet
• Person singing

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Instrument 2 what was it?

• Violin
• Piano
• Drum
• Clarinet
• Flute
• Guitar
• Trumpet
• Person singing

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Instrument 3 what was it?

• Violin
• Piano
• Drum
• Clarinet
• Flute
• Guitar
• Trumpet
• Person singing

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Demonstration 4 Which Instrument?

• You will hear the same clip played on 3 different
  instruments. Can you identify them?

piano
guitar
flute
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Tip 6

• Some instruments are easier to identify than
  others. Broadly speaking, percussion instruments
  come across well (drums and piano) string
  instruments, especially if they are plucked, are
  fairly good wind instruments can be difficult to
  identify.

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Tip 7

• Some detailed low frequency information can be
  picked up using hearing aids. If you have some
  residual hearing and have a hearing aid for your
  other ear, try using it when listening to music.

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Demonstration 5

• You will hear 2 more clips of the Teddy Bears
  Picnic. In which one can you hear the tune most
  clearly?

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In which clip could you hear the tune most
clearly?

• Clip 1
• Clip 2

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Demonstration 5 Whats the difference?

• Clip 1 loud accompaniment, soft tune
• Clip 2 soft accompaniment, loud tune

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Tip 8

• Background noise gets in the way!
• In the context of music, backing music or
  accompaniment can be intrusive and reduce the
  extent to which you can pick up the tune. Try to
  choose music where the accompaniment is light.

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Demonstration 6

• You will hear 2 more clips now. In which can you
  hear the tune most clearly?

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In which clip could you hear the tune most
clearly?

• Clip 1
• Clip 2

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Demonstration 6 whats the difference?

• Clip 1 trumpet with drum accompaniment
• Clip 2 trumpet with trombone accompaniment

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Tip 9

• Its easier to listen to 2 instruments that are
  very different than 2 instruments that are very
  similar.
• For example, listening to a trumpet and drum
  playing together is easier than listening to a
  trumpet and trombone playing together.

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Tip 10

• Think about the place where you are when
  listening to music. A quiet concert hall is
  better than an echo-ey cathedral a quiet living
  room is better than a noisy car.

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Tip 11

• (particularly applies to those with Nucleus
  implants)
• If the volume of the music is very quiet, you may
  miss some sounds
• If the volume of the music is very loud, you may
  not be able to hear the sounds very clearly and
  they might all be at the same level

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Tip 12

• A direct connection into your processor can help
  to improve the quality of the signal. Use a
  direct input lead if you have one available.

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Demonstration 7

• You will hear 2 more clips. In which can you
  hear the tune most clearly?

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In which clip could you hear the tune most
clearly?

• Clip 1
• Clip 2

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Demonstration 7 Whats the difference?

• Clip 1 instrumental only
• Clip 2 sung version

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Tip 14

• A song can be easier to pick up than an
  instrumental piece, as the words can help you to
  follow the music.

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Tip 13

• Being able to see the person who is performing
  will help you to hear the music. If they are
  singing, you will be able to lip-read them. If
  they are playing, the movements they make will
  help you to make sense of the music. Try DVDs
  rather than CDs or watch a live performance.
• Alternatively follow the words or the music to
  help you keep up.

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Teddy Bears Picnic

• If you go down in the woods today     
  You're sure of a big surprise.      If you go
  down in the woods today      You'd better go in
  disguise.     For every bear that ever there was
       Will gather there for certain, because
       Today's the day the teddy bears have their
  picnic. Chorus      Picnic time for teddy
  bears,      The little teddy bears are having a
  lovely time today.      Watch them, catch them
  unawares,      And see them picnic on their
  holiday.      See them gaily gad about.     
  They love to play and shout.      They never
  have any cares.      At six o'clock their
  mommies and daddies      Will take them home to
  bed      Because they're tired little teddy
  bears.

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Tip 15

• Practise makes perfect! This very much applies
  to listening to music with your cochlear implant.
  The sound will improve and become more
  meaningful the more you try.

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Music Checklist (1)

• What kind of music are you listening to?
• Music you know well
• Not too complicated
• Strong beat or simple or repetitive rhythm
• Instruments you can identify
• Light accompaniment
• Volume not too soft or loud

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Music Checklist (2)

• How are you listening?
• Watch the singer or player or follow the words or
  music
• Use a direct connection to your implant or use a
  loop system
• Use a hearing aid as well if this helps you
• Listen in a quiet room
• Dance or share the music with someone else
• Increase your microphone sensitivity if necessary
• Practise makes perfect!

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If we made some of the demonstrations and tips
available on our web page, would you be
interested in looking at them?

• Yes
• No