A 3rd grade student with cochlear implants hears speech through which process?

A cochlear implant functions by converting sound into electrical signals that stimulate the auditory nerve directly. This process begins with the microphone picking up sound from the environment. The sounds are then analyzed and converted into electrical impulses, which are sent to an electrode array implanted in the cochlea. This stimulation of the auditory nerve allows the brain to perceive sound, thereby enabling the student to hear speech.

In contrast, the other options describe processes that do not accurately reflect how cochlear implants work. For instance, amplifying sound or using bone conduction methods do not apply to cochlear implants specifically, as they rely on direct electrical stimulation rather than traditional hearing mechanisms.