Before you go on, read my answer to How do people with cochlear implants hear? In which I explained not only how CIs work, but also how and why they don't always work as advertised. read more
A cochlear implant (CI)—sometimes called a "bionic ear"—is a surgically implanted device that offers deaf people access to sound. In some cases, an implant can help a user make out spoken language. The Food and Drug Administration approved CIs for adults in 1985 and for children in 1990. read more