Hearing Rehabilitation & Music

A discussion of music hearing rehabilitation with cochlear implants and hearing aids

Listening to music through hearing aids or cochlear implants is a different experience but it can still be a satisfying and rewarding one—that is the message of Chrysa Kovach, community engagement program administrator at the USC Thornton School of Music and a researcher at USC’s Bionic Ear lab.

On Sunday, February 15 at 1 p.m., Kovach—and a team of other experts from the University of Minnesota and Sanford Bemidji Medical Center—will lead a special pre-concert panel discussion in the Target Atrium about the benefits of musical activity, how assistive hearing technology works, and how to develop practical strategies for meaningful musical engagement using cochlear implants and hearing aids.

After the 2 p.m. Chamber Music performance, audiences are invited to circle back for a guided discussion that invites cochlear implant and hearing aid users to discuss what they heard during the performance and to ask further questions about music rehabilitation.

“It’s advocacy to show that those with hearing loss can take part in music and enjoy it,” Kovach says. “It’s going to be different, and it might be difficult, but it can be done.”

Beginning at 12:30 p.m., the Orchestra Hall lobby will also offer a variety of experiences centered around hearing and advances in hearing technologies, presented by graduate students from the University of Minnesota.

Offered as part of the Minnesota Orchestra’s ongoing wellness initiatives, the pre- and post-concert sessions are free, but a concert ticket is required; the 2 p.m. concert is available as a “Choice Your Price” concert. This will be a highly informative, supportive experience for those experiencing hearing loss. Please join us!