@joanhawsey As I type this, I am listening to the music playlist I have just compiled to celebrate my upcoming birthday, which I had hoped to be celebrating with lots of friends and having a bang up party. Alas, Covid restrictions rule that out, so my friends will have to visit YouTube Music to party with me to the 65 tunes I chose to mark my 65 years. Being able to hear and enjoy the music again has been beyond wonderful and such a great and uplifting way to face my looming “Big One”.
I think your audi is very likely correct in assuming that music streaming is enhancing rehab. Since my implant, 6 months ago, I have noticed a huge improvement week over week in how I am hearing music. At first all voices sounded high pitched or off-key but, as the months have progressed, they are returning to what I remember. I still find female voices are a little high, and some instrumentals, particularly keyboard/piano, still sound synthesized, but I am hearing the lyrics now - likely better than I have for most of my life. I usually learned the words by reading the album covers, and I actually thought that’s what everyone did!
What I have discovered, though, is that if I am just listening through speakers and not via streaming (whether it’s music or audiobooks) voices generally sound normal now. I am not sure why, but I am very happy about that! So, as part of rehab, I try to listen with and without streaming.
When this hateful pandemic is over, I can hardly wait to attend some concerts. Meanwhile, I hold my own solo party every evening as I do kitchen clean-up. I dance like no one is watching - truth - and I have a grand time! Great exercise, too! I don’t think I fully realized what a loss it was in my life “the day the music died”.
Here’s hoping you have the same great results. Stick with it!