The Cochlear™ Baha® 5 Sound Processor allows users to stream sound directly from iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch®

Here is the direct link to the Cochlear Americas press release with VIDEOs of the product: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7052252-cochlear-baha-5-sound-processor/

PR Newswire– Centennial, Colo., (April 7, 2015)
Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, announced today the commercial availability of the Cochlear™ Baha® 5 Sound Processor. For people who are deaf in one ear, or have conductive or mixed hearing loss, the Baha 5 Sound Processor is not only the smallest bone conduction sound processor in the industry, it is full of advanced hearing technologies designed to help users hear better than ever before.

“We are always looking for new ways to improve the quality of life of those who use our technology to hear every day,” said Chris Smith, President of Cochlear Americas. “When developing the Baha 5 Sound Processor, we conducted extensive research to determine what was most important to our customers and two words consistently rose to the top of that list – size and simplicity. So, that’s what we did. We created the industry’s smallest and smartest bone conduction sound processor with the goal of providing an improved and simplified listening experience through direct-to-device streaming from iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and automatic signal processing with our proprietary SmartSound® iQ technology.”

Made for iPhone® Now Available in Hearing Implants.  Despite advances in technology, people with hearing loss still have difficulty using the phone and depend on intermediary devices to connect their phone to their hearing device in order to hear better. For more than a year, Cochlear has provided a full range of wireless accessories that stream sound directly to the sound processor with the goal of helping Baha System users experience the true wireless freedom they have always wanted. Now, Cochlear takes it one step further by introducing the first hearing implant system that lets people stream sound, and even control their sound processor, directly from iPhone, iPad® or iPod touch®.

With this new technology, people with a Baha 5 System can enjoy music, games, movies, apps – even make a FaceTime® call to family on the other side of the world – with sound streamed straight to their sound processor. It’s easy to set up and easy to use, so people can stay connected to the devices and people they love.

A Personalized Hearing Experience with New Smart App
To further enhance the overall hearing experience only possible with Made for iPhone, Cochlear has released a new Baha 5 Smart App compatible with the Baha 5 Sound Processor for extra simplicity. With the Baha 5 Smart App, users can personalize their listening experience by adjusting and customizing the sound processor directly from iPhone. They can save programs to specific locations, adjust volume, treble and bass and even track down a misplaced sound processor – all discreetly done without having to draw attention to their sound processor.

Listening Made Easy in a Small, Discreet Package
The Baha 5 Sound Processor is designed to help users enjoy clearer, crisper sound even in noisy environments. The key to this new sound experience is the innovative SmartSound® iQ technology, which is a signal processing platform that automatically adapts to different sound environments to deliver a more comfortable listening experience and the opportunity for the best possible hearing performance in noisy situations.

All of this is packaged inside the smallest bone conduction sound processor in the industry.

The Baha 5 Sound Processor is also an award winner. It recently received the prestigious, internationally recognized Red Dot Award: Product Design 2015, which is only given to outstandingly creative, innovative and high quality products. It is a great honor for Cochlear to be presented with this award.

To learn if you may be a candidate for the Baha System, visit http://www.Cochlear.com/US/BahaSystem.

To find out more about the features of the Baha 5 Sound Processor, visit http://www.Cochlear.com/US/Baha.

About Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)
Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. The company has a global workforce of 2,700 people and invests more than AUS$100 million a year in research and development. Products include hearing systems for cochlear, bone conduction and acoustic implants.

Over 350,000 people of all ages, across more than 100 countries, now hear because of Cochlear.

www.cochlear.com

# # #

The Cochlear Baha 5 Sound Processor is compatible with iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad (4th generation), iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2, iPad mini and iPod touch (5th generation) using iOS 7.* or later.

Apple, the Apple logo, FaceTime, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

©Cochlear Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Hear now. And always and other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of Cochlear Limited or Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contact
Kerri Lewandowski
Cochlear Americas
(512) 354-7164
KLewandowski@Cochlear.com

Andrew Perry (born with BMA and Treacher Collins), recipient of a new Oticon Medical Ponto Pro through Ear Community on Feb. 9th, 2015.

Meet Andrew Perry, an almost 14 year old who was born with Treacher Collins and bilateral Microtia and Atresia.  Andrew lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his father, Clyde, and his younger sister, Sara.  Andrew enjoys spending time with his friends and family. However, Andrew struggles with hearing conversations and lessons in the school classroom due to having a maximum conductive hearing loss in both of his ears.  Andrew struggles when trying to participate in conversations because he hears too many background sounds, causing noise, that get in the way of the words and communication that he needs to be hearing in order to understand well.  Everything blends together for Andrew.  “In addition to this, straining to hear can make someone with a hearing loss tired throughout the day,” says Melissa Tumblin, Founder of Ear Community.

Even though Andrew had one hearing device already (a Ponto Pro manufactured by Oticon Medical), he still struggled to hear everything, each day.  While not being able to afford purchasing a new BAHA, Andrew’s father, Clyde, did apply through their insurance provider, but were denied coverage for an additional BAHA.  Andrew’s father, Clyde, had noted that “Andrew’s academic performance had declined significantly over the past several months and contributes this to his inability to follow classroom instruction successfully.” Andrew’s audiologist, Dr. Brittany Whitlock, Au.D., CCC-A, of  Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat of Atlanta, P.C., knew that Andrew still needed help with his hearing regarding localizing sound with both ears.  Dr. Whitlock understands that “the brain relies on equal input from both ears in order to separate noise from speech signals.”  In an effort to help Andrew, Dr. Whitlock discovered a nonprofit organization, called Ear Community, that can often help individuals born with Microtia and Atresia obtain hearing devices when in need, and so Dr. Whitlock applied for a hearing device for Andrew.

On February 9th, 2015, Andrew was  fitted with a second Ponto Pro hearing device that was donated by Oticon Medical through the Ear Community Organization.   “By allowing Andrew to be aided with two BAHA hearing devices, he will be given the opportunity to detect soft speech sounds in both ears, helping improve his ability to localize sound and articulation and follow classroom instruction in background noise to improve his academic performance,” says Dr. Whitlock.   Already during Andrew’s first week back to school while being aided with two Ponto Pro processors, he has noticed a difference in being able to hear better!

Ear Community would like to thank Dr. Brittany Whitlock for finding our organization and helping Andrew apply for a hearing device to help him hear better.  Ear Community wishes to say a very special thank you to Alan Raffauf, Vice President of Marketing of Oticon Medical, for donating this hearing device to Ear Community so that the foundation could help Andrew.  Thank you for your support and for helping Ear Community continue with its mission of helping the Microtia and Atresia community, including individuals born with Treacher Collins as well. While the Ear Community organization is proud to have donated Andrew’s new Oticon Medical Ponto Pro, none of this would have been possible without Oticon Medical donating this amazing hearing device to Ear Community to begin with. Oticon Medical believes in helping individuals with hearing loss so that they can live a better quality of life. Oticon Medical is a well respected international hearing device manufacturer that is a part of the “William Demant Group [which has] 100-plus years of experience in audiology and sound processing and established manufacturing and logistics infrastructure.”

Andrew, from all of us here at Ear Community, we wish you the best with better hearing and in doing so much better in school! “I am always amazed at how much of a difference a hearing device can make in someone’s life,..especially if they are given the opportunity and the chance to obtain one when they couldn’t at first,” says Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community.  Congratulations on hearing your best Andrew!

Thank you,
Melissa Tumblin
Founder and Executive Director
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

2015 Ear Community Microtia and Atresia Summer Family Picnics

Ear Community hosts picnics every year around the world helping bring Microtia and Atresia families together.  This year’s picnics will take place in Australia, Denmark, Pennsylvania (USA), Colorado (USA), Washington (USA), and South Africa.  It is very exciting for many families! Everyone enjoys attending our picnics and our Ear Community picnics always offer such a wonderful opportunity for Microtia and Atresia families to come together, share experiences with each other, and maybe even make a new friend.  Medical professionals such as world renown Microtia and Atresia repair surgeons, anaplastologists, ENTs, audiologists, and therapists along with the world’s leading hearing device companies all come together to mingle with us at our picnics, helping educate us on all of our options including hearing loss.

We look forward to seeing you at our Ear Community picnics this year!

Melissa Tumblin,
Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community
Founder of the Microtia and Atresia Support Group on Facebook

2015 Ear Community Picnics

EHDI Meeting
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
March 8th thru 10th, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky
The Ear Community Organization is very excited to attend the EHDI (Early Hearing Detection and Intervention) Meeting that will take place this March 8th thru the 10th in Louisville, Kentucky! This will be Ear Community’s very first conference/meeting where attending as an exhibitor! Parents and medical professionals will be in attendance hoping to learn more about hearing loss and all options. We’ll be representing Microtia and Atresia and all options!

Please stop by and visit us at booth #41. We look forward to seeing you at EHDI this year!
– Melissa Tumblin
Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

Australia Ear Community Picnic
Melbourne, Australia
Date:  Saturday March 14th, 2015
Time:  11AM to 3PM
RSVP to Lisa and Melissa at:  AustralianEarCommunityPicnic@hotmail.com

Denmark Ear Community Picnic
Hellerup, Denmark
Date:  Sunday, May 31st, 2015
Time:  11AM to 3PM
RSVP to Melissa at:  DenmarkEarCommunityPicnic@gmail.com
*  This picnic will be in collaboration with Decibel.  Decibel is the national organization for children and young people with hearing loss. The association counts both parents, relatives, professional, private and business members.  Decibel consists of a board that is responsible for the overall management of the association and a secretariat in charge of the daily performance.

Decibel er landsforeningen for børn og unge med høretab. Foreningen tæller både forældre, pårørende, professionelle, private- og erhvervsstøttemedlemmer.  Decibel består af en bestyrelse, der står for den overordnede ledelse af foreningen og et sekretariat, der står for den daglige udførelse.

Pittsburgh Ear Community Picnic
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date:  Saturday June 13th, 2015
Time:  11AM to 3PM
RSVP to Kim and Melissa at:  PittsburghEarCommunityPicnic@gmail.com

Colorado Ear Community Picnic
Broomfield, Colorado 
Date:  Saturday, July 25th, 2015
Time:  11AM to 3PM
RSVP to Melissa and Audra at:  ColoradoMicrotia@hotmail.com

Seattle Ear Community Picnic
Seattle, Washington
Date:  Saturday, August 8th, 2015
Time:  10AM to 2PM
RSVP to Jodi, Jamie, and Melissa at:  SeattleEarCommunityPicnic@gmail.com

South Africa Ear Community Picnic
Johannesburg, South Africa 
Date:  Saturday, October (TBD)
Time:  11AM to 3PM (TBD)
RSVP to Mark and Melissa at:  SouthAfricaEarCommunityPicnic@gmail.com

Hi Everyone! One of our support group members and a very dear friend of mine would like to share her story with all of us. Here it is:

Camilla Gilbert thanks the Ear Community Organization for helping her find confidence, a brighter future, and for finding a hearing device that is right for her.

Hi, My name is Camilla Gilbert.
I was born with a congenital deformity call Bilateral Microtia type III, whichaffected the outer ear not to fully develop. Furthermore Microtia affected my hearing due to the lack of an ear canal on both ears and I was categorized as a deaf person. Living with Microtia during my childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood years I developed low self-esteem, isolation, and confusion. Furthermore I did not want to associate with members of the deaf and Hard of Hearing culture because they were viewed as weak or impaired individuals within our society. I just wanted to be considered “normal” within the hearing world and this led me to cover my ears and hearing aid with a headband every day until the age of 26. However in 2005 I began to change my viewpoint of my deafness and investigated who I was as an individual.

Previously I never knew name of my condition, I just referred to it as being different and wore a hearing aid and my ears were closed. I began my quest by researching and analyzing information online to determine the name of my condition. After a few different searched online I discovered the medical terminology for my deformity, Microtia. This began the process of locating others in the area that was born with Microtia; this led me to Ear Community.
Ear Community is a non-profit organization that offers supportive community for individuals who were born with Microtia and other related conditions surrounded around hearing loss. Ear Community’s website provided me with helpful articles related to different surgery procedures, new technologies, and advocacy information. Furthermore I was able to connect with others who were blessed with Microtia all over the world. I accepted and was comfortable with living with Microtia and started reaching out to others through Facebook on the Ear Community page. This led to group discussions and empowerment for myself and to others.

Ear Community began to have different picnics over the world and in 2013 there was one hosted in Columbus, Ohio. I was excited to go and was in amazement when I arrived at the picnic. I was surrounded by others of all ages with Microtia just like me. Children were playing and parents were asking professionals and adults with Microtia for advice. I felt like a superstar at the event for a condition that I used to be ashamed of. During the picnic I was able to engage with my peers, which included an individual by the name of Justin Bays. During our conservation he educated me on different technologies options that Microtia individuals have; one included the Oticon Medical Ponto Hearing Aid Implant. I was already aware of this new technology however to see and interact with someone current uses the device and spoke highly of it was inspiring. I expressed my concerns about getting the device due to fear of having surgery but Justin Bays ensured me I would be fine and that I would be happy with the digital sound quality.

Ten months later in April I was in the surgery room getting my first Oticon Medical Hearing Aid Implant and got my second device in August of the same year. If I would have never gone to the Ear Community’s picnic in Columbus, Ohio surrounded by my Microtia peers I may have never had the courage to have the surgery. My experience at this group event changed my life for the better and was very memorable.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Camilla! It was great meeting you in Ohio two summers ago at our Ear Community picnic.  Camilla proudly wears the Oticon Medical Ponto Plus sound processor to hear life better because sound matters!  Camilla was also Ear Community’s first college scholarship recipient and her family is a big supporter of the Ear Community Organization.  Camilla is also a wonderful single mom too and is on her way to graduate school!  Justin Bays is a member of Ear Community’s Board of Directors.  Thank you Justin for passing on the information…you helped change someon’es life at our picnic!

We are so proud of you Camilla!
– Melissa Tumblin
Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

Santa Clause (played by Zach Gulley) hands out presents on December 20th, 2014 at the Toy Drive for Microtia and Atresia kids of Colorado through the Ear Community Organization.

On Saturday, December 20th, 2014, a toy drive for Microtia and Atresia kids of Colorado was made possible by Jeramiah Penaflor, Zach Gulley, Robert Brehm, Brian Caldwell, Dina Voiselle, and Gary and Dawn Penaflor for the Ear Community Organization. Santa, played by Zach Gulley – Managing Parnter for the Bert and the Beard radio station, put some pretty big smiles on 22 children on Saturday, all ranging in ages from 15 months to 16 years during his visit in Broomfield, Colorado at the Broomfield Community Center. Families mingled while listening to Christmas music as they enjoyed eating home made cookies (baked by Dawn Penaflor) with drinks. “It was especially fun to see Santa throwing the football around with some of the children, the smiles on their faces and the laughter was something really special to see that day,” said Melissa Tumblin, Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community. The children each received Christmas gifts from Santa that included basketballs, Lego sets, board games, necklace and bead kits, toy cars and fire trucks, block sets, and large stuffed animals just to name a few. In fact, these lucky children all received multiple gifts from Santa and really enjoyed spending the day with him and each other! Families had a great time watching their children play with each other and their new toys.

Pictured from left to right: Dina Voiselle, Jeramiah Penaflor, Santa Clause (Zach Gulley), and Robert Brehm help host an amazing day for Colorado Microtia and Atresia kids through the Ear Community Organization on December 20th, 2014.

Jeramiah Penaflor, Founder and Managing Partner for Mile High Salute, Rock Talk, Nuggets Gold Post, the Burgandy and Blue Crew, and Broncos Design, wanted to give back to a charity during the holiday season this year. Jeramiah contacted Melissa Tumblin asking if he and his colleagues could host a toy drive for the Ear Community Organization and help put some smiles on Microtia and Atresia kids faces. “It was a pleasant surprise to receive such a wonderful message from Jeramiah about hosting a toy drive for these children,” said Melissa Tumblin.  Jeramiah said, “this is something that he and his colleagues wanted to do, to give back to a charity during this time of year and make it fun for children.” Jeramiah’s daughter, Evelyn, was born with Microtia and Atresia and he knew that Ear Community would be the perfect organization for such a special event.

Robert Brehm, also Founder and Managing Partner for Mile High Salute, Rock Talk, Nuggets Gold Post, the Burgandy and Blue Crew, and Broncos Design, including the Bert and the Beard radio station, along with his family, made sure these lucky kids had plenty of presents from Santa. Between setting up toy drive bins around the North Metro Denver area and personally shopping at Walmart for Santa’s presents, Robert and his family, in addition to Jeramiah Penaflor, Zach Gulley, Robert Brehm, Brian Caldwell, Dina Voiselle, Gary and Dawn Penaflor, along with Brian Caldwell (Founding Partner and Manager of Broncos Design), made this all possible for these kids and did an amazing job working together, making sure everything went off without a hitch. They even got together to wrap all of the children’s presents the morning before our event so everything would be complete. “Our day with Santa was honestly a perfectly fun and rewarding day,” said Melissa Tumblin. “Seeing how hard Dina Voiselle, Jeramiah, Zach, Robert, Brian, Dawn and Gary worked to make this day possible brings joy to my heart…knowing how much they all wanted to do this for these children and how much they wanted to give back to the community through the Ear Community Organization warms my heart,” says Melissa.

Pictured left to right: Jeramiah Penaflor, Dina Voiselle, Robert Brehm, Santa (Zach Gulley) with Hailey and Ally Tumblin along with Melissa and Brent Tumblin, December 20th, 2014 Toy Drive for Colorado Kids with Microtia and Atresia.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our special day possible with Santa! A special thank you to Jeramiah Penaflor for not only choosing Ear Community as a charity to give back to this holiday season, but for also doing this for his daughter, Evelyn, and so many other children like her who are in the same situation.   Jeramiah, I hope Evelyn is proud of her daddy and knows what all you do for her and children in Colorado.  I hope Jeramiah and Santa’s team feel rewarded this holiday season for all that you have done for Ear Community’s children and their families. Thank you also to the Broomfield Community Center for donating our beautifully decorated room so we could have a nice place to share these wonderful memories together with Santa! Thank you everyone!

Here are the links to the amazing organizations that Jeramiah, Zach, Robert, and Brian head up:

All of us at Ear Community would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and an even Happier New Year!
Thank you for such a wonderful year,

Melissa Tumblin
Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community
and
Ear Community Board Members
www.EarCommunity.org

Clark Witt, 7 months old, LMA, proudly wearing his donated Oticon Medical Ponto Pro from Kris Siwek.

In April of 2014, Max and Melissa Witt gave birth to a beautiful sweet baby boy named Clark. When Clark was born, he was originally diagnosed with having Goldenhar Syndrome and Hemifacial Microsomia. Clark was also born without his left ear due to having Microtia and a missing ear canal due to having Atresia, resulting in hearing loss. Clark’s parents did everything they could to provide him with proper healthcare prenatally. They had level 2 ultrasounds, genetic screenings, even a fetal echocardiogram, etc… However, it wasn’t until Clark was almost 2.5 months old (after birth) when Clark’s doctors discovered that his heart had a double aortic arch. Clark underwent heart surgery at just 5 months of age to fix his heart.

Baby boy Clark Witt following heart surgery, LMA.

With Clark’s parents focusing on his heart surgery and his recovery in the beginning of his life, Clark’s parents hadn’t had time to consider any potential speech delays or communication impairments because of his unilateral hearing loss. Clark’s mom, Melissa, says that “Clark has always made good eye contact since he was a week old and he has cooed since he was 2 months old. However, his coos haven’t changed (now at 7 months of age).” Melissa noticed when Clark heard sounds that he was looking toward his right (with his better hearing ear) and often looked around in confusion. When Melissa began wondering if Clark was having troubles hearing, she took Clark to an ENT to have him evaluated. Dr. James Thomsen (Pediatric Otolaryngologist) explained how hearing works on the speech banana diagram to Melissa and Max and that there are different frequencies and vowel sounds that may not be heard when there is a hearing loss, such as with unilateral hearing loss. Dr. Thomsen also explained how two ears help us to localize sound and when one ear doesn’t work very well, we can lose the ability to locate where sound is coming from. Max and Melissa realized Clark may be struggling with his hearing loss even though it is a unilateral hearing loss.

At six months of age, Max and Melissa took Clark to an audiologist where he was fitted with a loaner hearing device made by Oticon Medical called the Ponto Pro. Dr. Jennie Allen, Clark’s pediatric audiologist, told Melissa that Clark can wear this hearing device on a soft band head band. Melissa says, “For the first time, I can clap on his left side and he turns to the left side (not his right), noticing where the sound is coming from.” Melissa says, “I have done everything I can to help my son so far, and there is overwhelming evidence that a bone conduction hearing device will help Clark hear better.”

While trying to pay off medical bills from Clark’s heart surgery, Melissa applied for a bone conduction hearing device through their insurance provider, but were denied coverage for a BAHA. Dr. Jennie Allen informed Max and Melissa about a nonprofit organization called Ear Community that helps individuals born with Microtia and Atresia. Max and Melissa applied through Ear Community for a hearing device for Clark.

Melissa Tumblin, Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community, explains that “As a part of Ear Community’s mission to help children and adults born with Microtia and Atresia, one of our goals is to help children like Clark obtain hearing devices when in need.” Ear Community manages multiple support groups online, but one in particular was created to help families and individuals pay it forward and help donate gently used hearing devices to those in need of one. This particular Ear Community support group is called the “Ear Community Gently Used Bone Conduction Hearing Aids,” group. Melissa explains, “this support group gives BAHA users the chance to donate their gently used bone conduction hearing devices to someone who needs one, but cannot afford one. Members with used devices do not sell them on our group, but donate them, helping pay it forward and find a new home for their hearing device.”

Kristine Siwek pictured with her husband and their three beautiful children.

One of Ear Community’s support group members, Kristine Siwek, saw a post on our gently used group from Clark’s father looking for a BAHA for his son. With Thanksgiving season upon us and being the time of year to give thanks and to give back to our community, Kristine realized this was a wonderful opportunity for her to help give back and help little Clark hear better. After discovering that baby Clark’s hearing loss was in his left ear as well, Kristine knew this was meant to be. Kristine had perfect hearing until she turned 29 years old when she went deaf in her left ear as a result of a brain tumor (acoustic neuroma). Kristine says, “Until then, perfect hearing was something that I took for granted. I realize now, how lucky I am to have gone through schooling and the various sports I played without a hearing or balance deficit. It is one of the reasons why I feel so passionate about making sure children receive the support they need to develop, grow and thrive.” Knowing how a BAHA has helped Kristine regain her hearing, she understands the benefits of how her Oticon Medical Ponto Pro has helped her hear again with a unilateral hearing loss. Kristine explains, “As a mom of 3 toddlers, I know firsthand that I would do anything to help make my children’s lives easier, healthier and brighter. I am overjoyed to be able to help another family’s mission to do just that for their sweet baby boy! I am truly humbled by the endless support I have received the past four years since my hearing loss and I feel so honored to donate my Ponto Pro to Clark through Ear Community and give back to a community that can help a child hear better.”

When Max and Melissa discovered that Kristine wanted to donate her hearing device to Clark so he can hear better, they were overjoyed as well! Clark’s mother Melissa says “The Ponto Pro is the same model Clark has on loan from the ENT! He has had it for maybe 3 weeks on a one month trial basis and is responding so well. I hate the thought of taking it away from him. It’s just been a long year regarding medical expenses. This is amazing and perfect timing. Goldenhar syndrome affects so many systems, and the past 7 months have been full of expensive doctor appointments/surgeries and a lot of bad news. However, this gift has given much relief and provides optimism for us. We are so thankful for Kristine’s donated BAHA for Clark!”

When Oticon Medical found out about Kristine wanting to pay it forward by donating her BAHA to baby Clark, the organization wanted to make sure Clark had everything he needed. So, Oticon Medical donated a welcome package and care package for Clark with lots of BAHA accessories included.

Clark Witt, 7 months old, born with LMA, enjoying all of the sounds in his life wearing his Oticon Medical Ponto Pro hearing device that was donated by Kris Siwek.

“This is the true meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday,” says Melissa Tumblin. “It is the wonderful feeling of wanting to give back and pay it forward. The wanting to help others within our community and experiencing the good and thanks as a result of what we have done that has helped someone.” “This is what Ear Community’s mission is all about and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of these amazing experiences that happen through our foundation,” says Melissa Tumblin. A very special thank you to Kristine Siwek for finding a new home for her BAHA so that it could help Clark hear better! A very special thank you to Alan Raffauf, Oticon Medical’s Vice President of Marketing in the US, for donating the care package of accessories for Clark so that he has everything he needs. And….thank you very much to Max and Melissa Witt for being a part of our Ear Community Gently Used Bone Conduction Hearing Devices group, helping them find what they needed for Clark.

“All of us here at Ear Community are so very happy for Clark and Kristine during this Thanksgiving holiday and thankful that we were able to connect these two wonderful families so that they could receive the help they needed with the help of Oticon Medical,” stated Melissa Tumblin.

Here is the link to our Ear Community “Gently Used Bone Conduction Hearing Devices” group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EarCommunityDonatedHearingDevices/

Here is also the link to our primary Ear Community support group for Microtia and Atresia loved ones: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Microtia-and-Atresia-Support-Group/118851728152174

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Ear Community and we are so happy for baby Clark! Ear Community is a 501c3 nonprofit charity organization that helps Microtia and Atresia families all over the world. Tax ID#: 84-1246756

Thank you always,

Melissa Tumblin
Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org/donate

Santa Sent Me a Message!

Would you like your child to receive a letter from Santa Clause and a stuffed elf/reindeer this holiday season? If so, Ear Community has teamed up with the North Pole this holiday season to do this very thing! Please visit http://www.santasentmeamessage.com/personalizedletterearcommunity.html and put a smile on your children’s faces this Christmas season with a special letter directly from Santa!

Santa Sent Me a Message is offering a special deal for these orders!  Each order costs $15/ea instead of $35/ea in support of helping give back to our members and anyone who just likes what Ear Community is doing for Microtia and Atresia loved ones.

For every order, SantaSentMeAMessage.com has agreed to donate $1 to Ear Community! Together, Ear Community and Santa Sent Me a Message hope to spread lots of joy this holiday season and put lots of smiles on many beautiful faces!

Encourages Continuation of Awareness-Building among Key Groups and General Public

Oticon Medical logo

SOMERSET, NJ  November 5 –On October 31, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced via final rule that auditory osseointegrated implants (AOIs) are not hearing aids and therefore will remain a covered benefit for those Medicare enrollees with qualifying indications.

For Oticon Medical, the ruling reflects the success of a concerted effort by professional organizations, bone anchored hearing device providers, industry and advocacy groups to educate policy makers to the value of bone anchored implants in advance of proposed CMS changes to withdraw coverage for bone anchored hearing devices. It has also renewed the company’s determination to expand understanding and appreciation of bone anchored implants among medical and hearing care professionals, insurance providers, regulators and the general public.

“Friday’s decision by CMS is a victory for many new and existing users of Ponto and other bone anchored hearing solutions who will continue to have access to this proven and effective treatment for conductive or mixed hearing loss and single-sided deafness,” said Curt Gorman, President, Oticon Medical LLC. “Oticon Medical is proud to have contributed to the success of the collective efforts by mobilizing our resources and networks to drive awareness.  Now, we encourage everyone to build on the momentum of this victory to continue to expand awareness of the benefits of bone anchored implants.”

Oticon Medical plans to increase targeted outreach efforts that have actively engaged with professional groups to increase awareness of the newest advances in implant technology.  The company’s annual Scientific Conferences create unique opportunities to share and acquire new competencies, skills, theoretical foundations and methods with the potential to increase patient acceptance and satisfaction now and in the future.

Oticon Medical also works closely with advocacy and consumer groups to increase access to grassroots information about bone anchored implants for both professionals and consumers.  The company’s annual Patient Advocacy Summit brings together leading advocates and ambassadors to explore ways to enhance social media, networking, support groups and other means of disseminating information to better meet the needs of people with conductive and mixed hearing loss and single-sided deafness.

“We want to ensure that everyone who has the potential to benefit from bone anchored implants has access to the information and the support they need,” says Gorman. “As the success of the CMS initiative proves – by working together with our professional partners and consumer advocates, we have the power to open a world of sound to people through access to innovative implant solutions that improve quality of life now and in the future.”

To learn more about Oticon Medical and the Ponto System, a full range of bone anchored sound processors, wireless accessories, implant and surgical components, visit www.OticonMedical.com.