Music therapy to improve speech understanding in noise after cochlear implant
Official title: Impact of Music Therapy on Speech Intelligibility in Noise With Cochlear Implants
Run by Luzerner Kantonsspital · NCT06734897 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether six months of music therapy starting right after cochlear implant surgery helps adults with new implants understand speech better in noisy places.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Luzerner Kantonsspital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 11, 2025 |
| Main results expected | February 28, 2027 |
| Study ends | February 28, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 25, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06734897 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–85 who are receiving a new cochlear implant, speak German as their main language, and are not congenitally deaf are the ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with congenital deafness, those who cannot attend in-person sessions at the Lucerne site, or non-German speakers are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will randomize adults receiving a new cochlear implant into three groups: an early-start music therapy group that begins therapy immediately for six months, a delayed-start group that begins six months later, and a no-therapy control group. The music program uses targeted training of rhythm, pitch, and timbre based on a Heidelberg concept and is delivered in person. Speech intelligibility in noise will be measured with the OLSA sentence test at six and twelve months to compare outcomes across groups. Eligible participants are German-speaking adults aged 18–85 undergoing first-time cochlear implantation, excluding congenital deafness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help cochlear implant users better understand speech in noisy environments and improve everyday communication.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research with normal-hearing listeners has suggested music-based training can aid speech perception, but randomized evidence in cochlear implant users is limited, making this application relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patient aged between 18-85 years 2. Patients who undergo a new CI Implantation 3. Patients who speak German as their main language Exclusion Criteria: 1\. Patients with congenital deafness
Where it's running
-
Lucerne Cantonal Hospital
Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Armina Kreuzer, Dr. tech.
- Email: Armina.Kreuzer@luks.ch
- Phone: +412055059
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.