auditory brainstem implant

An auditory brainstem implant (ABI) is a medical device that helps individuals with severe hearing loss or deafness when cochlear implants aren’t effective. It bypasses damaged parts of the ear and auditory nerve by directly stimulating the brainstem’s hearing pathways. The device has electrodes attached to the brainstem, and a processor inside the skull captures sounds, converts them into signals, and sends them to these electrodes. This allows the brain to interpret sound information, helping the person perceive speech and environmental sounds, often enabling improved communication and awareness of their surroundings.