Cochlear implants can help people with severe to profound hearing loss who do not benefit from hearing aids. They consist of an external portion that picks up sound and processes it, and an internal portion that is surgically placed under the skin and stimulates the auditory nerve. Cochlear implants can help young children acquire speech and language skills through early implantation during their critical period of development. They work by bypassing damaged hair cells in the inner ear and directly stimulating the auditory nerve.