What is a Cochlear Implant?
Find out about ‘What is a cochlear implant’ on BayAudiology, the hearing experts. A cochlear implant is small but complex electronic device for people who have severe or profound hearing loss. The implant is surgically inserted under the skin behind the ear and into the cochlea (the snail-shaped organ of hearing) and works by sending electronic impulses to the brain. The brain interprets these impulses as sound. An implant does not create normal hearing. Rather, it provides the severely deaf with access to sound that helps them to better understand speech.
A cochlear implant is an electronic device designed to bypass the external and middle ear and excite the auditory nerve directly. It is implanted in the cochlea; and by stimulating auditory nerve fibers, patterns of nerve activity occur which the brain interprets as sound. Cochlear implants are the hearing solution for people with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears. For a complete description of how cochlear implants work, click here.
A cochlear implant is an electronic device designed to bypass the external and middle ear and excite the auditory nerve directly. It is implanted in the cochlea; and by stimulating auditory nerve fibers, patterns of nerve activity occur which the brain interprets as sound. Cochlear implants are the hearing solution for people with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears.
A cochlear implant is advanced technology for children and adults who do not benefit from hearing aids. Cochlear implants have several parts: An electrode array that is surgically implanted in the inner ear (cochlea); a receiver that is surgically placed behind the ear; and a microphone and processor which are worn externally. The cochlear implant takes in and converts acoustic sound energy into electrical signals that stimulate the auditory nerve in the cochlea, sending the signal to the brain where it is perceived as sound.
