be transferred through the spiral ganglion cells and auditory nerve 116 to the brain not shown where they are perceived as sound in certain profoundly deaf persons there is an absence or destruction of the hair cells cochlear implants such a cochlear implant 120 is utilized to directly stimulate the ganglion cells to provide a hearing sensation to the recipient fig1 also shows the positioning of cochlear implant 120 relative to outer ear 101 middle ear 102 and inner ear 103 cochlear implant 120 comprises external component assembly 122 which is directly or indirectly attached to the body of the recipient and an internal component assembly 124 which is temporarily or permanently implanted in the recipient external assembly 122 comprises microphone 125 for detecting sound which is outputted to a behind the ear bte speech processing unit 126 that generates coded signals which are provided to an external transmitter unit 128 along with power from a power source 129 such as a battery external transmitter unit 128 comprises an external coil 130 and preferably a magnet not shown secured directly or indirectly in external coil 130 internal component assembly 124 comprise an internal coil 132 of a stimulator unit 134 that receives and transmits power and coded signals received from external assembly 122 to other elements of stimulator unit 134 which apply the coded signal to cochlea 115 via an implanted electrode assembly 140 electrode assembly 140 enters cochlea 115 at cochleostomy region 152 and has one or more electrodes 150 positioned on an electrode array 144 to be substantially aligned with portions of tonotopically mapped cochlea 115 signals generated by stimulator unit 134 are typically.