TRANSHUMANISM
Background
A cochlear implant helps deaf people to hear by functioning like an inner ear. This electronic medical device amplifies sound by sending sound signals to the brain (ScienceDaily, 2013).
Cochlear Implants
Features
Cochlear implants helps people hear better than a hearing aid. Studies show that they can hear up to 80% better than compared to just 10% on hearing aids. This helps them to communicate even in noisy places. When they implant in both ears, they can identify where does the sound come from (Cochlear, 2013).
How it works
Most people suffering from hearing loss have damaged inner ear. This implant helps sound to be transmitted into nerve impulses.
1) A sound processor, powered by a battery, is placed behind the ear. It collects sound from the surroundings and translate it into a digital code.
2) The digitally coded sound is being transmitted from the sound processor to the internal implant through the coil.
3) The digital coded sound is being converted by the implant into electrical impulses. It is then being sent through the electrode array which is in the inner ear.
4) The hearing nerve is being stimulated by the electrodes and is being sent to the brain as impulses. These impulses will be interpreted as sound (Cochlear, 2013).
Reproduced from signforfun (n.d.)
Reproduced from Digitale (2012)
Reproduced from Cochlear (n.d.)