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A cochlear implant is a medical device that restores hearing function in individuals who have severe to profound hearing loss.  In contrast to a hearing aid, which simply makes sounds louder, a cochlear implant takes the place of parts in the inner ear that are not working properly.  The cochlear implant has two primary parts, the processor, and the implant.  The processor is the piece outside of the body that picks up sounds, processes them, and sends signals to the implant.  The implant is the piece inside the body. It is placed behind the ear during surgery and receives signals and sends them to the hearing nerves, bypassing the damaged portions of the inner ear.