Final answer:
Cochlear implants require training and are designed for those with sensorineural hearing loss; they are useful even for congenital deafness as long as the auditory nerve functions. They are not aimed at treating presbycusis or conductive hearing loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct information a nurse should include for a patient contemplating a cochlear implant is that cochlear implants require training to receive the full benefit. This is because a cochlear implant consists of a microphone, speech processor, and transmitter that work together to convert sounds into electrical impulses, which are then sent to the auditory nerve. This innovative medical device is specifically designed to help those with sensorineural hearing loss, characterized by damage to the hair cells in the cochlea or to the auditory nerve itself.
Cochlear implants are indeed useful for patients with congenital deafness, as long as the auditory nerve is intact. They are not generally aimed at early intervention for presbycusis, which is age-related hearing loss. Moreover, cochlear implants are not indicated for patients with conductive hearing loss, as this type of loss generally involves problems with the bones of the middle ear, not the cochlea or the auditory nerve.