Final answer:
Neural deafness, or sensorineural hearing loss, can be effectively treated with cochlear implants, which turn sounds into electrical impulses that directly stimulate the auditory nerve, bypassing damaged inner ear structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, neural deafness, also known as sensorineural hearing loss, can indeed be treated with cochlear implants. This form of hearing loss can result from inner ear damage, such as that caused by Ménière's disease, characterized by degeneration of inner ear structures, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and pressure. Cochlear implants work differently from hearing aids; they translate sounds into electrical impulses that can directly stimulate the auditory nerve even when inner ear structures are damaged.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a failure to transmit neural signals from the cochlea to the brain. In cases where the hair cells in the organ of Corti are absent or damaged, damage to the cochlea or its nerves persists, and a cochlear implant can be a viable treatment. These implants have restored hearing for many individuals who have nonfunctional cochleae.