cochlear implant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical, medical, academic, formal.
Quick answer
What does “cochlear implant” mean?
An electronic medical device surgically implanted to provide a sense of sound to a person with profound hearing loss or deafness by directly stimulating the auditory nerve.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An electronic medical device surgically implanted to provide a sense of sound to a person with profound hearing loss or deafness by directly stimulating the auditory nerve.
The device and the associated surgical procedure; more broadly, the technology and field of biomedical engineering focused on restoring auditory function via neural stimulation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows national conventions (e.g., 'implantation' vs. no difference for the term itself).
Connotations
Identical technical/medical connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Equally frequent in medical and related discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “cochlear implant” in a Sentence
[Patient] received/was fitted with a cochlear implant.[Surgeon] performed cochlear implant surgery on [patient].The cochlear implant was activated [time phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cochlear implant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team decided to implant the device next week.
American English
- She was implanted with the device last month.
adjective
British English
- The cochlear-implant programme has expanded.
- He is a cochlear-implant user.
American English
- Cochlear implant surgery is highly specialized.
- The cochlear implant mapping session went well.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in healthcare industry reports, medical device manufacturing, and insurance documentation.
Academic
Central term in audiology, otolaryngology, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering papers.
Everyday
Used when discussing medical procedures, disability, and assistive technology in general conversation.
Technical
Precise term in clinical settings, surgical notes, device specifications, and audiologist reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cochlear implant”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cochlear implant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cochlear implant”
- Misspelling as 'cochler implant' or 'cochlea implant'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He was cochlear implanted' is non-standard; prefer 'He received a cochlear implant').
- Confusing it with a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a cure. It is a prosthetic device that provides a sense of sound by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve. Results vary widely, and it requires extensive training and rehabilitation.
Hearing with a cochlear implant is different from natural hearing. Users often describe sound as 'robotic' or 'electronic' initially. With training, many can understand speech well, but music and noise separation can remain challenging.
Eligibility is determined by a medical team. Typically, candidates have severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and receive limited benefit from powerful hearing aids.
A hearing aid amplifies sound. A cochlear implant bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) and converts sound into electrical signals to directly stimulate the auditory nerve.
An electronic medical device surgically implanted to provide a sense of sound to a person with profound hearing loss or deafness by directly stimulating the auditory nerve.
Cochlear implant is usually technical, medical, academic, formal. in register.
Cochlear implant: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒk.li.ə ˈɪm.plɑːnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊk.li.ɚ ˈɪm.plænt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have/get a bionic ear (informal, based on synonym).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COCHLEA (the spiral part of your inner ear) + IMPLANT (something put inside you). It's an implant for the cochlea.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COMPUTER INTERFACE FOR THE EAR (processing external sound into digital signals for the brain).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a cochlear implant?