A cochlear implant is very different from a hearing aid. Hearing aids amplify sounds so they may be detected by damaged ears. Cochlear Implants bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. Signals generated by the implant are sent by way of the auditory nerve to the brain, which recognizes the signals as sound. Cochlear Implants are surgically placed electrical devices that receive sound and transmit the resulting electrical signals to electrodes implanted in the cochlea of the ear. The signals stimulate the cochlea, allowing patient to hear.