How do cochlear implants work?

Cochlear implants function by directly stimulating the auditory nerve using electrical impulses. This process is essential for individuals with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, where the hair cells in the cochlea are damaged and ineffective at converting sound waves into neural signals.

The implant consists of an external microphone that captures sound, a speech processor that converts those sounds into digital signals, and an internal electrode array that gets implanted in the cochlea. The internal device then sends electrical impulses directly to the auditory nerve fibers, bypassing non-functioning hair cells. This neuromodulation allows the brain to perceive sound, which is crucial for speech understanding and communication.

Amplifying sound in the outer ear, enhancing hair cell function, or converting sound waves into mechanical vibrations does not address the underlying issue for many individuals who are candidates for cochlear implants. These approaches are more suitable for those with different types of hearing loss, not for those whose auditory nerve must be electrically stimulated to perceive sound.