In order to understand how a cochlear implant works, it is important to understand how we hear. The outer ear collects sound waves and sends them to the middle ear.  The sound waves bounce off the eardrum and are made louder by three tiny bones: the hammer, anvil and stirrup.  The sound waves travel into the fluid filled inner ear. The waves go through the cochlea (organ of hearing). Microscopic hair cells in the cochlea turn the vibrations into electrical impulses. Then the brain receives and interprets this energy as sound or speech.

Here is how the basic parts of a cochlear implant work:

1. A tiny microphone turns sound into electrical signals.
2. The electrical signals are sent to a sound processor which then selects, arranges and codes these signals.
3. A transmitter sends these signals to a receiver/stimulator.
4. The receiver/stimulator sends these signals to the electrode array in the cochlea.
5. The auditory nerve picks up the signals from the electrode array and send them to the brain.
6. The brain recognizes these signals as sounds.

Cochlear implant companies such as Advanced Bionics are focused on continuing to improve the implant design and functionality. Very recent advances in implant technology are allowing more implant users to cope effectively with the challenges that they face in their every day life: noisy backgrounds, soft speech and music, use of telephone plus business or school environments.

• What are cochlear implants?
• Different wearing styles
• Living and hearing with Cochlear Implants