What is a Cochlear Implant?
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device designed to provide auditory information to individuals with severe to profound hearing loss who are unable to receive adequate benefit from hearing aids.
There are two main parts:
- A speech processor implanted under the skin above and behind the ear during surgery.
- Worn on the outside of the head, the external parts include: a microphone, a speech processor, a battery and a transmitting coil.
How a cochlear implant works:
- The microphone picks up sounds and sends them to the speech processor.
- The speech processor digitally encodes the sound. The coded signals are then sent to the transmitting coil.
- The transmitting coil sends the signal through the skin by FM radio waves to the implanted receiver.
- The group of electrodes at the end of the receiver stimulates the auditory nerve with tiny electrical pulses. This replaces the function of the damaged or missing hair cells.
- The nerve impulses travel to the brain where they are interpreted as sound.
