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What is a cochlear implant?

A cochlear implant is a special device for people who cannot benefit from hearing aids. When hearing aids are not helpful, the reason is often that excessive damage to the inner ear, or cochlea, has occurred. A cochlear implant is a sugically implanted device, that when used with the external processor, can help individuals hear better than they can with hearing aids.

 

How a Cochlear Implant Works

Follow link to see how Nucleus works 1. The external sound processor captures sounds, then filters and processes the sounds. 2. The sound processor translates the filtered sounds into digital information, which is then transmitted to the internal implant. 3. The internal implant converts the digital information into electrical signals, and sends them to a tiny, delicate curl of electrodes that sits gently inside the cochlea. 4. The electrical signals from the electrodes stimulate the hearing nerve, bypassing the damaged cells that cause hearing loss, allowing the brain to perceive sound. How Natural Hearing Works 1. Sounds enter the ear canal and travel to the eardrum. 2. These sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, setting the bones in the middle ear into motion. 3. This motion is converted into electric impulses by tiny hair cells inside the inner ear (cochlea). 4. These impulses are sent to the brain, where they are perceived by the listener as sound.

 

 


 
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