DSPs help the hearing-impaired
From: EDN - March 2, 2000 - page 44

The human ear is an amazing thing; we should all commend its inventor. But
all too often, people are either born with or develop hearing malfunctions.
One company, Advanced Bionics (http://www.advancedbionics.com), has used
programmable DSPs to develop cochlear-implant devices that can restore
functional hearing to profoundly deaf people, enabling more than 90% to
communicate even over the telephone. Advancements in DSP technology have made
cochlear implants more effective, more comfortable, and more accessible.  

http://www.ednmag.com/ednmag/reg/2000/03022000/05hiw.htm