The apparatus, system and method of the invention provides a toot to measure, diagnose and retrain the ability to enjoy sound and particularly musical sound for post-lingually deafened cochlear implant recipients. The invention consists of computer driven audio and visual stimulus presentation apparatus, selected and stored musical scores, subject response apparatus, and means to access the cochlear implant which act in conjunction with fundamental components, namely: (1) Firstly, a Sound Enjoyment Assessment Tool (SEAT), (2) Secondly, a Perceptual Discrimination Assessment Tool (PDAT) consisting of 2 parts, 1. a pitch discrimination assessment (PA) toot, and 2. a timbre discrimination assessment (TA) tool, (3) Thirdly, a Music Perception Ability Tool (MPAT) which functions both as an assessment and as a retraining tool, and (4) Fourthly, a Timbre Perception Ability Retraining Tool (TPART). The initial components SEAT, PDAT, and MPAT are used together principally as a composite Diagnostic Tool. When used 'once through' SEAT produces a set of diagnostic scores of the patient's enjoyment of music, PDAT produces diagnostic scores of pitch and timbre discrimination ability, and MPAT produces a profile of scores related to the person's perceptual abilities related to music patterns and melodies. Repeated uses can be part of a rehabilitation program alone or in conjunction with the remainder of the invention. The later components MPAT and TPART are additionally used as individual and composite Retraining Tools functioning as mastery-based, multi-level training systems premised on subject/system interaction in practice followed by increasing requirements for attention and complexity.
APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MUSIC ENJOYMENT AND ABILITY TESTING AND REHABILITATION RETRAINING WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANTS