How an implant works. Step-by step guide. 1. Sound Processor Captures sound from environment Processes sound into digital information (a distinctive code that has been determined to be the most useful for sound and speech understanding.) 2. Headpiece : the electrically coded signal is transmitted across the skin via radio waves to the implant.

3. Implant

• Decodes the signal
• Delivers it to the array of electrodes positioned within the cochlea.

4. The electrode array directly stimulates the hearing nerve fibers within the cochlea.

5. Stimulation of the hearing nerves causes electrical impulses to be delivered to the brain where they are interpreted as sound.

The entire process -- from incoming sound to processing in the brain -- occurs so rapidly that the user hears sound as it happens.

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