The Hearing Matters Podcast with Blaise Delfino aired today, December 3rd, 2025, sharing my story about advocacy for Ally and the Ear Community Organization as well as our push for Ally’s Act, H.R. 4606 to pass!
“NEW Hearing Matters Podcast episode featuring Melissa Tumblin, Founder of EarCommunity.org. The link to the full conversation will in the comment section.
A birth surprise. A scramble for answers. And a mother who refused to accept “good enough” when her daughter’s hearing, and future, were on the line.
We sit down with EarCommunity.org founder Melissa Tumblin to unpack microtia, aural atresia, and the real costs of unilateral hearing loss that too often go unseen: delayed speech, safety risks, and the daily strain of listening with one ear in a noisy world.
When a child is born with microtia and aural atresia, parents often face shock, sparse answers, and a maze of decisions during the most vulnerable days of early life. That was Melissa’s reality when her daughter Ally arrived without a fully formed outer ear and with associated conductive hearing loss.
What began as a search for clarity soon became the foundation for EarCommunity.org, a hub that connects families with hearing care professionals and offers practical guidance on hearing devices, speech development, and school accommodations. This story reveals how a single family’s question—why is medically necessary hearing technology so hard to access—can grow into an organized push for equity in hearing health care.”
Thank you so much to Blaise for inviting me on the Hearing Matters Podcast! Ally and I appreciate you sharing our story of advocacy for the microtia and aural atresia community and why the Ear Community Organization was needed for families like ours! We hope Ally’s Act, H.R. 4606 passes someday soon so the children and adults who require the use of bone anchored hearing devices and cochlear implants can have better access to hearing! After all, these are the only hearing devices they can benefit from as a traditional hearing aid can’t help us.
Here is the link to the episode.
Apple podcast link to the episode.
Spotify podcast link to the episode.
Thank you again! ❤️👂
Melissa and Ally Tumblin
Ear Community
Today is Giving Tuesday!
MED-EL USA announces the launch of the 2026 IDEASforEARS children’s invention contest
There are (4) grades of Microtia and Aural Atresia:
5. Bone Anchored Hearing Devices/Bone Conduction Implant Systems – these are specific bone conduction systems that aid conductive hearing loss and are often the only specialized hearing devices individuals with Microtia and Aural Atresia can benefit from due to missing ears.

















discovered that he had worked for the same company (StorageTek) that both my husband and his father worked for years ago. We knew people in common and all about the technology. A conversation that resonated with me and that was just the beginning. Crazy how years later, a rare cause and a small nonprofit would connect us on opposite sides of the US. Small world it is, Sean, and I am grateful for you!





















Once Alida knew she wanted to help give back, she reached out to our Ear Community Organization as a member of our community. She knew exactly what she wanted to do and began planning for and organizing the 5K run/walk in her hometown. From gathering sponsors, to creating her own fliers and t-shirt designs, to speaking on local podcasts to asking the City of Tremont for help – Alida had a plan! Did I mention that Alida is only 20 years old! For months, Alida wondered how many people would show up, worried it would only be a handful of people who would turn out as the race date neared. Finally, on Saturday, July 19th, it was Alida’s big day to bring the community together and she was ready! Alida and help began setting up for the race around 5:30 AM that morning! Alida’s amazing family and friends helped set up the entire course while she focused on some last-minute details. To Alida’s surprise – 161 walkers/runners signed registered for the race! Of course it rained, but for most of the race it was perfect weather! About 89 people ran the race. The runners had chips on their running bibs, so Alida could see how many actually came to the race. She had volunteers of all ages offer to help, which was so inspiring to see! Alida’s Great Aunt, who is 80 years old, helped pass out water to runners at the one-mile mark! The Tremont Police Department donated their time and services to provide officers to guide runners at intersections! Tremont Rescue had two responders (Megan Harley, Paul Molden & Chief Trent Steiner) volunteer standby for runners during the race, stationed at both the start and finish lines! And, Tremont Area Park District (Bryan Cheek, Director) donated the park pavilion during the race where participants could be sheltered from the rain and where the awards ceremony took place.
One of the highlights of Alida’s day was having two other individuals with microtia and atresia at the race! One of them traveled all the way from Florida to be there! The other Alida had just met a couple of weeks earlier at a restaurant. It meant the world to share this experience with them! Not only was this day so special for Alida and her family and for all of the runners and walkers who participated, including so many from her home town who stepped up to help and donate their time and services, but Alida raised nearly $15,000.00 with her event thanks to registered walkers and runners and other donors, including the runners and walkers who shared about this event asking others to help donate to our cause. Incredible!!!! Alida even had awards made and certificates, including making sure that first place received a special bracelet that was donated thanks to Brad and Kathy of U
are such an incredible person with such a big heart wanting to make a difference and to help raise funds so no other child or adult has to do without a hearing device. Thank you for everything and for your family who supported you the entire way! Thank you for raising funds for our Ear Community Organization so we can continue to help even more children and adults who were born with microtia and atresia!

































