Cochlear Implant Music Hour brings music appreciation to implant recipients

Cochlear implants are neuroprosthetic devices that can restore sound to those with profound hearing loss. Cochlear implants use a speech processor to translate sounds into words, thereby enabling recipients to understand speech. While greatly impactful to those suffering from hearing loss, cochlear implants are limited in their ability to process music. Thus, the subtle nuances that make music enjoyable tend to be lost in cochlear implant users. Raymond Goldsworthy, Associate Professor in the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology and head of the Bionic Ear Lab at USC, aims to bring music appreciation and community building to those with cochlear implants through the Cochlear Implant (CI) Music Hour Collaboration, a weekly on-line group session.

Having lost his own hearing at age 13, Goldsworthy has dedicated his research to the way sound signals are processed in cochlear implants. In collaboration with the USC Thornton School of Music, the CI Music Hour was founded in 2019 with the goal of helping CI recipients gain an appreciation for music. The program connects implant users with other like-hearing individuals and local musicians, sharing listening experiences and collaborating in workshops aimed at promoting well-being and community through music. Goldsworthy and his team have found great success connecting individuals through remote sessions, and are excited to transition to in-person collaborations, optimistic that the program will provide its participants with an even stronger appreciation for music and all its nuances. You can read more about the CI Music Hour here: https://news.usc.edu/204361/cochlear-implant-music-hour-usc-good-neighbors-campaign/