A new study in deaf mice shows that initiating the brain's natural ability to adapt to new conditions, or neuroplasticity, improves how effective a cochlear implant is at restoring hearing loss. The researchers say the investigation may help explain the drastic difference in hearing improvements experienced by implant recipients. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify, balance, and sharpen incoming sound, cochlear implants send electrical signals representing sounds directly to the brain. Unfortunately, experts sayUnderstanding the meaning of the signals can take some time. Previous studies have shown that while some cochlear implant users understand speech a few hours after receiving their device, others need months or years to do so. However, the mechanisms that determine how quickly the brain adapts to the implant have been unclear.
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