In a surgical procedure involving the ear, which implant can restore hearing?

A cochlear implant is specifically designed to restore hearing for individuals who have significant hearing loss, particularly sensorineural hearing loss, by directly stimulating the auditory nerve. It bypasses damaged hair cells in the cochlea by converting sound into electrical signals that the brain can interpret as sound. This device is particularly beneficial for patients who are unable to benefit from traditional hearing aids due to the severity of their hearing impairment.

In the context of surgical procedures involving the ear, cochlear implants have become a standard treatment option, especially for patients who have not had success with other hearing devices. They require surgical placement within the inner ear, providing a direct interface with the auditory system.

Other devices mentioned in the choices serve different purposes. Bone-anchored hearing aids improve hearing by transmitting sound vibrations through the skull, bypassing the outer and middle ear, but they do not restore hearing in the same way cochlear implants do. Auditory brainstem implants are utilized in specific cases, primarily for those who do not have an adequately functioning cochlea or auditory nerve. Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at repairing the eardrum or the bones of the middle ear, which may help improve hearing but does not function as an implant to restore hearing like a cochlear implant