Cochlear implants have provided thousands of deaf people with the ability to hear. Cochlear implants work by using electrodes to send pulses to the auditory nerve, which the brain then recognizes by sound. But for those born without an auditory nerve cochlear implants and hearing has not been an option, until now. Researchers from the University of Southern California have created an auditory brainstem implant (ABI) that doesn’t require an auditory nerve to provide sound. Essentially ABIs bypass the hearing nerve and are connected right to the brain. Researchers are finding that the devices are most effective when implanted in younger children because the brain will learn how to use the device to decipher sound, a learning trait that is harder with older patients. A small scale study made up of children age 2 and younger is currently underway and showing great success.
Device gives deaf children gift of hearing
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