Final answer:
A cochlear implant may not effectively restore hearing for individuals with conductive deafness because the device is designed for sensorineural hearing loss, which involves the inner ear or auditory nerve, rather than issues in the outer or middle ear that characterize conductive hearing loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cochlear implant is a device designed to help those with sensorineural hearing loss, not conductive deafness. Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem conducting sound waves anywhere along the route through the outer ear, tympanic membrane (eardrum), or middle ear (ossicles). A cochlear implant may not effectively restore hearing for individuals with conductive hearing loss because it bypasses the damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. For those with nonfunctional cochlea or absent hair cells in the organ of Corti, cochlear implants can be beneficial as they work by bypassing the damaged inner ear structures and directly stimulating the auditory nerve. However, a cochlear implant would not restore hearing for someone with an abnormal auditory nerve or extensive damage that prevents nerve stimulation. Additionally, conductive losses can be partially addressed with hearing aids that send sound vibrations to the cochlea through the skull or by medically treating the middle ear's structural issues. Ultimately, for conductive hearing loss, other treatments rather than a cochlear implant are often more appropriate.