What is the name of the electronic transmitter surgically implanted into the cochlea of a deaf person to restore hearing?

The correct answer, cochlear implant, refers to a sophisticated electronic device that is surgically inserted into the cochlea of the inner ear. This device functions by converting sound waves into electrical signals, which are then transmitted directly to the auditory nerve. This bypasses damaged hair cells in the cochlea, which are often responsible for sensorineural hearing loss. The cochlear implant enables individuals who are profoundly deaf or have severe hearing loss to perceive sounds, providing a sense of hearing that can be quite transformative.

In contrast, a hearing aid amplifies existing sounds and is used by individuals who have some residual hearing. It does not provide the direct stimulation of the auditory nerve as a cochlear implant does. An auditory prosthesis is a more generalized term that could refer to various devices designed to aid hearing, which can include both cochlear implants and hearing aids, but does not specifically identify the implant used in surgery. A bone-anchored hearing aid focuses on transmitting sound vibrations through the skull to the inner ear, typically for those with conductive hearing loss, which does not involve surgical implantation of an electrode array directly into the cochlea like a cochlear implant does.