Cochlear Implant

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Cochlear Implant

A Cochlear Implant (pronunciation: /ˈkɒklɪər ˈɪmplænt/) is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing.

Etymology

The term "Cochlear" is derived from the Latin word "cochlea" meaning "snail," referring to the spiral shape of the inner ear. The term "Implant" comes from the Latin "implantare" meaning "to insert."

Description

The Cochlear Implant is different from a hearing aid. Hearing aids amplify sounds so they may be detected by damaged ears. Cochlear Implants bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. Signals generated by the implant are sent by way of the auditory nerve to the brain, which recognizes the signals as sound.

Procedure

The implantation procedure involves a surgical operation to insert the device into the cochlea of the inner ear. The external part of the device, which includes a microphone, a speech processor, and a transmitter, is worn behind the ear.

Related Terms

  • Auditory Nerve: The nerve that carries impulses from the inner ear to the brain, resulting in the perception of sound.
  • Cochlea: The spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.
  • Hearing Aid: A device designed to improve hearing by making sound audible to a person with hearing loss.

See Also

External links

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