How cochlear implant users come to enjoy music: Insights from the Trajectory Equifinality Approach

While some cochlear implant (CI) users experience difficulties with music perception, they still enjoy music. However, the specific processes through which they come to enjoy music remain unclear. This study aimed to explore how CI users engage with music, what aspects they find enjoyable, and what triggers enable them to enjoy music. Interviews were conducted with members of a group of CI users who participate in music activities. The data were analyzed using the Trajectory Equifinality Approach (TEA). The results revealed that after implantation, participants selected instruments that were easier for them to hear, found enjoyment in playing music with others, and benefited from improved auditory perception through bilateral implantation. TEA analysis illuminated diverse pathways from a loss of musical enjoyment due to hearing decline, through the initial gap between pre- and post-implant listening experiences, to regaining enjoyment of music via adaptation and support. These findings suggest that CI users can regain the ability to enjoy music through individual strategies, such as training and adaptation, as well as environmental factors, such as bilateral implantation and engaging with musical companions.