MODEL RELEASED. Cochlear implant testing. Audiologist testing the hearing ability of a young girl with a cochlear implant (CI). This device enables signals from a microphone to be relayed directly to the nerves of the ear. Its external components consist of a transmitter (circular), microphone (around the ear) and sound processor (not seen). The transmitter is magnetically attached to a receiver that has been surgically implanted beneath the skin of the scalp. Electrodes from the receiver extend into the cochlear of the inner ear, allowing sound impulses to reach the brain. CIs enable the profoundly deaf to be aware of sounds and speech.