Music Perception, Appreciation, and Participation in Postlingually Deafened Adults and Cochlear Implant Users: A Systematic Literature Review.

Heterogeneity of studies prevented data pooling, as methods, participant ages, and device types varied significantly. Most research focused on CI users (113 studies), leaving hearing aid users and those with unaided hearing loss under-researched (18 studies). 41 studies did not age-match normal-hearing controls to participants, potentially confounding results given that hearing loss is associated with aging. Music perception was often tested in sound booths, which may not reflect real-world listening experiences and can be a negative environment for participants. There were no standardized tests for music perception, leading to inconsistent measurement tools across the 131 included studies.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest and received no financial support. However, the review included six studies conducted by cochlear implant companies and nine studies funded by hearing aid or implant brands, though these were included because their findings aligned with independent research.

Do not assume that a patient who performs poorly on music perception tests does not enjoy music. The review found that enjoyment is often independent of accurate pitch or timbre perception, driven instead by rhythm, familiarity, and emotional memory.