Whatever your personal taste, listening to music is one of life’s joys. For some implant recipients, listening to music comes very easily, but for others, it may take a little time.

It’s important to remember that cochlear implants were primarily designed to help with speech perception. Whilst speech and music share some acoustic similarities, there are also several critical differences. Factors like your individual hearing biology, the type of music, the listening conditions and even your personal motivation can all affect your ability to enjoy music. With practice, you’ll develop the skills you need to hear music. The important thing is to establish realistic expectations. Music may not sound exactly the same as before your hearing loss, but with the right approach, many recipients find they can enjoy listening to music they love. Practice will help you fully appreciate music, and the following is a list of tips for developing your new music listening skills.

1. Choose the listening environment carefully

• Music will generally sound more pleasant in a quiet room with no echo.
• Some people like to use earphones or direct connection to the sound processor, while others prefer using speakers. Test your options and use good quality sound equipment.

2. Choose your music carefully

• Music that was familiar to you before your hearing loss can be easier to enjoy.
• Start with music that features fewer instruments, such as solos or small ensembles, rather than music played by large bands or orchestras.
• Songs that repeat the same musical patterns or words can be easier to pick up. Some recipients report that children’s music can be good listening practice for adults too!

3. Be strategic and realistic about listening

• Listening practice should be broken up into short, but frequent sessions. This can be much more effective than one or two long sessions. Don’t expect things to sound perfect immediately. Many people report that music sounds better the more they listen to it.

4. Aim for good sound quality

• Keep the volume at a moderate level.
• Some people find that digital music formats are easier to understand e.g. CDs, MP3s or digital music players.

5. Use visual input to assist your ears and brain

• Use visual clues to help make sense of the music such as watching a singer’s lips or the rhythmic action of the piano player’s fingers, to help make sense of the music.
• Read along with the lyrics. If you don’t have them, you can often look them up on the internet.

6. Broaden your music listening goals

• Remember that music is more than just notes – it’s also a social activity that brings people together. Why not plan and prepare a music event to enjoy with others?
• If you’re attending a musical event and you become overwhelmed, think about taking a silence break. Turn your processor down or off, or walk outside until you’re ready to continue listening.
• Be proactive about your listening environment. For example, when making a reservation at a restaurant, ask to be seated away from loud speakers so that any background music won’t make conversation difficult. For more information on listening to music, please contact your hearing health professional.

Learn more about listening to music