Cochlear implants have provided thousands of deaf people with the ability to hear. Cochlear implants work by using electrodes to send pulses to the auditory nerve, which the brain then recognizes by sound. But for those born without an auditory nerve cochlear implants and hearing has not been an option, until now. Researchers from the University of Southern California have created an auditory brainstem implant (ABI) that doesn’t require an auditory nerve to provide sound. Essentially ABIs bypass the hearing nerve and are connected right to the brain. Researchers are finding that the devices are most effective when implanted in younger children because the brain will learn how to use the device to decipher sound, a learning trait that is harder with older patients. A small scale study made up of children age 2 and younger is currently underway and showing great success.
Device gives deaf children gift of hearing
More of Today's Solutions
Student Makers, a deeper dive: bringing free STEM to students on three contin...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM This article kicks off The Optimist Daily's Local Changemakers 2026 series, spotlighting changemakers 30 and under. It was ...
Read MoreMeet Vivian Ho: the 17-year-old who built a supply network around dignity, no...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM This article is part of The Optimist Daily's Local Changemakers 2026 series, spotlighting changemakers 30 and under. Most ...
Read MoreSperm-sorting tech identifies strongest swimmers to help couples conceive
In-vitro fertilization is certainly a potential avenue for couples who are having problems conceiving a child due to low-quality sperm. However, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that ...
Read MoreHow one Maine school is helping students heal in nature
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM At Morse High School in Bath, Maine, detention doesn’t always mean fluorescent lights and silent classrooms. Thanks to ...
Read More
