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Scientific Oral Presentations

Otology/Neurotology

Session: Scientific Oral Presentation 1 - Otology/Neurotology

Cochlear Implant-aided Hearing Ability Contributes to Music Listening Habits

Saturday, October 11, 2025
10:00 AM - 10:06 AM EDT
Location: 239
Disclosure(s):
Isaac L. Alter, AB:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Alexander Chern, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Anil K. Lalwani, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Despite their efficacy in speech rehabilitation, cochlear implants (CIs) are known to produce deficits in perception and enjoyment of music. However, music listening habits are less well-studied among implantees, despite the profound impact of music listening on quality of life.

Methods: Cochlear implantees were recruited from a tertiary academic medical center and via community outreach. CI-aided audiograms and word recognition scores (WRS) were obtained. Participants completed an online survey rating music enjoyment and time spent listening to music on 10-point Likert scales. Multiple linear regression was performed to assess the relationship between pure-tone average (PTA) and WRS in the implanted or non-implanted ear and self-rated music enjoyment and music listening habits.

Results: Seventy-two implantees participated, including 25 bilateral users, 27 bimodal users (one CI and one hearing aid), and 20 unilateral implantees with no contralateral device. Participants had on average 29.9 years since their hearing loss diagnosis, and 7.5 years of implant experience. Neither PTA nor WRS of the implanted or non-implanted ear were significantly associated with self-rated music enjoyment. However, both PTA (β = -0.13, p=0.0095) and WRS (β = 0.034, p=0.037) of the CI-aided ear were significantly correlated with time spent listening to music; there was no similar association with hearing ability of the non-implanted ear.

Conclusions: Objective CI-aided hearing ability significantly influences music listening habits for CI users, while hearing in a non-implanted ear is non-contributory. This places increased importance on optimal CI programming to potentially increase music listening time, with potential implications for quality of life among CI users.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • IA

    Isaac L. Alter, AB

    Medical Student
    Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons
    New York, NY, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Alexander Chern, MD

    Assistant Professor of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
    Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • MK

    Megan Kuhlmey, AuD

    Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • MD

    Meghan Despotidis, AuD

    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • SK

    Scott Kelly, BS

    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • TH

    Tiffany P. Hwa, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
    Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Anil K. Lalwani, MD

    Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Associate Dean for Student Research, Columbia VP&S
    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    New York, NY, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.