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Before we can discuss what a cochlear implant is, we must first understand a little about the anatomy of the ear. In the ear, there are three main areas. These areas include the outer, middle, and inner ear. The cochlea is a structure in our inner ear that plays an important part in the process of sending sound from our ear to our brain. When there is a problem in this area, it can affect how a person hears any type of sound. If a person is experiencing a more severe type of hearing loss and hearing aids are not working, there is a device called a cochlear implant that can help.

A cochlear implant is a device that is surgically implanted into the ear. This device bypasses all the structures of the ear and sends signals right to the nerve that allows us to interpret sound. This device is made up of two components:

• External sound processor- This device is placed behind the ear on top of the head. Sound is received from a microphone and then transmitted to the internal device.
• Internal Device- This device is surgically implanted into the cochlea and is attached to the external processor through a wire and electrodes. Once the sound is received from the processor, the cochlea and the nerve are stimulated, and the sound can be heard.

-Sarah W.

References:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Cochlear Implants (Practice Portal). Retrieved August 13, 2024, from www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Cochlear-Implants/.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2024, April 26). Cochlear implants. Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cochlear-implants/about/pac-20385021