A cochlear implant is a small electronic medical device that improves moderate to severe hearing loss. It’s used to help hearing loss in adults, children, and babies.
The device works by electrically stimulating the cochlear nerve. It has external and inner components.
The external component is placed behind the ear. It consists of a microphone, which receives sound waves. A speech processor analyzes the sounds and turns them into digital signals.
These signals are sent to a transmitter, which forwards them to the internal receiver. The transmitter and receiver are held together by a magnet.
The internal portion is implanted beneath the skin, behind the ear. When the receiver gets the digital signals, it turns them into electrical impulses.
These impulses are sent to electrodes in the cochlea, which stimulates the cochlear nerve. The nerve forwards them to the brain. The result is a sense of hearing.
Though the brain will notice the sounds, they’re not the same as normal hearing. Therapy and rehabilitation are necessary to learn how to properly interpret these sounds.
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