Differences in Music Perception Skills Between Child, Teen and Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Adult recipients of cochlear implants (CI) generally loose interest in listening to music. This may be due to the rather limited spectral resolution of CI. However, child CI-recipients, if offered the opportunity, like to listen to music. They participate actively in musical acitivities, such as singing, dancing or playing an instrument. Thus, there seems to be a fundamental difference in the music perception of people who receive CI as child or as adult. This study assesses music perception skills of child, teen and adult cochlear implant recipients in settings with simple tone sequences and in a more complex, melodious context.

Official Title
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Differences in Music Perception Skills Between Child, Teen and Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients

Conditions
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Cochlear Implant Recipients

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Assessment of music perception skills


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria: Participants are uni- or bilateral CI recipients. Participants are at least 3 years old. Participants received CI one or more years before. Participants are healthy. Participation in the study is voluntary. Participants and their legal custodians have read the information for participants at least one day prior to the test and given their written consent. Exclusion criteria: Surgery for CI carried out less than one year before the test. Children less than 3 years old. Reduced cognitive capabilities due to old age. Physical or mental handicaps.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 3 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Children aged 3 - 10 years<br>Assessment of music perception skills with cochlear implant recipients aged 3 - 10 years | Behavioral: Assessment of music perception skills<br>* A sequence of tones is presented to participants. Then the same sequence is presented again, with the 4th tone being one to six half tones different from the first sequence. Participants are asked to indicate when they hear a difference betweent the first and the second sequence.<br>|
| Teenagers aged 11 - 15 years<br>Assessment of music perception skills with cochlear implant recipients aged 11 - 15 years | Behavioral: Assessment of music perception skills<br>* A sequence of tones is presented to participants. Then the same sequence is presented again, with the 4th tone being one to six half tones different from the first sequence. Participants are asked to indicate when they hear a difference betweent the first and the second sequence.<br>|
| Adults aged 16 - 70 years<br>Assessment of music perception skills with cochlear implant recipients aged 16 - 70 years | Behavioral: Assessment of music perception skills<br>* A sequence of tones is presented to participants. Then the same sequence is presented again, with the 4th tone being one to six half tones different from the first sequence. Participants are asked to indicate when they hear a difference betweent the first and the second sequence.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Does the age at which a person receives a cochlear implant influence music perception skills? | The test assesses wether cochlear implant carriers are able to hear the difference betweent two sequences of sounds, where in the second sequence on tone is different from the first sequence. If a difference is perceived, then the test assesses how big this difference has to be in order to be heard. The first and the second test are no more than six months apart; both times the same procedure is followed. The test is carried out with three age groups: Children aged 3-10 years Teenagers aged 11 - 14 years Persons above 15 years | Test and retest are taken within 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Do the results of the primary outcome measure depend on the tone sequence presented to the cochlear implant recipients? | The test is carried out with three different tone sequences: Same tone at three different octaves (control tune: 131 Hz, 262 Hz, 523 Hz) Tune of rising, then falling notes Tune of rising notes only | Test and retest are no more than 6 months apart |