Audiology

Treatment

How Cochlear Implants Work

A cochlear implant consists of an external microphone and speech processor that receive and convert sound waves into electrical signals. The signals are transmitted over a small cable to one or more electrodes that are implanted in the cochlea. These impulses are then sent to the brain, where it is recognized as sound.

Learn More

• What are Cochlear Implants?
• Benefits of Cochlear Implants
• Criteria for Getting Cochlear Implants
• How the Procedure Is Done

Resources

For more information about cochlear implants, visit the following Web sites:

• Cochlear
• Advanced Bionics Corporation
• The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
• National Academy of Sciences: Short history of the cochlear implant