Effect of an online music program on behavioral co-regulation in mothers and children with cochlear implants and with normal hearing

Children with cochlear implants (CIs) could show disruptions of contingency in early interactions. Music and rhythmic activities could improve co-regulation in mother-child dyads with CIs. This study explores i) the impact of an online music program on behavioral co-regulation of dyads with children with CIs (CI-T; N = 15; M = 17.70 months, SD = 6.60) who participated in the program, a CI control group (CI-C; N = 16; M = 19.39 months, SD = 6.50), and dyads with normal hearing children (NH-T; N = 14; M = 16.14 months, SD = 3.55) who participated in the program; ii) the associations in the CI-groups between practices of music at home and behavioral co-regulation. The CI-groups were assessed at three (T1) and six (T2) months after CIs’ activation. The NH-T group was assessed before (T1) and after (T2) the program. Analyses of video-recordings revealed significant increases at T2 in the duration of mother-child contingent and affective behaviors in the CI-T group, compared to the CI-C group. In the CI-groups, correlational analyses show positive associations between maternal reports of music at home and mother-child contingent and affective responses. The potential of music activities for auditory rehabilitation after CIs activation is discussed.