Background and Objective: An auditory prosthesis refers to a device designed to restore hearing. Some parameters of the auditory prosthesis, such as mass, implanted position, and degree, need to be repeatedly designed and optimized based on the realistic geometry of the ear. Numerous auditory prostheses designs were based on animal or specimen experiments involving many complex instruments, and the experimental specimens had low repeatability. The finite element method (FEM) can overcome these disadvantages and be carried out on the computer with substantial flexibility in modifying the prosthetic parameters to optimize them. This narrative review aims to analyze the recent advances in the design and optimization of auditory prostheses using the FEM and provides suggestions for future development. Methods:The literature on the design of auditory prostheses using the FEM has been extensively studied using the PubMed and Web of Science databases, including different ear models and relevant parameters of different auditory prostheses that need to be designed and optimized.

The cochlea plays an important role in the mammalian auditory system. Sound-induced cell motion in the cochlea is transformed into electrical signals that are then sent to primary auditory neurons. The most significant feature of the cochlea is the active and nonlinear amplification of faint sounds. This active process cannot be explained via a simple hydromechanical representation of the cochlea, that is, a macromechanic explanation. Although the mechanisms of this amplification are not well understood, cochlear micromechanical behavior is thought to play a significant role. The measurement of in vivo cochlea micromechanical responses is challenging and restricted by technical limitations. Modeling the micromechanics of the cochlea, however, can facilitate the interpretation of experimental observations. In this paper, we reviewed studies in which researchers modeled the cochlear micromechanics, and we discussed various modeling hypotheses, outcomes, and expectations.