A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to individuals with severe hearing loss or deafness. It bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear and stimulates the auditory nerve directly.
Related terms
Hearing Loss: The decreased ability to hear sounds, which can range from mild to profound.
Auditory Nerve: The nerve that carries electrical signals from the inner ear (cochlea) to the brain, allowing us to perceive and interpret sound.
Inner Ear: The part of the ear that contains the cochlea, responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals.