Oticon Medical honors advocate Melissa Tumblin with the Ambassador Leadership Award

August 23, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Melissa Tumblin, Oticon Medical Ambassador Leadership Award recipient.

Alan Raffauf, VP of Marketing Oticon Medical with Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community, Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 2022.

On Saturday, August 13th, 2022, Alan Raffauf (VP of Marketing) of Oticon Medical honored Melissa Tumblin of the Ear Community Organization, with the Ambassador Leadership Award in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, recognizing her for her tireless work in the D/HH community for nearly 13 years. Since 2011, Oticon Medical has brought a select group of advocates together annually who have been advocating for bone anchored hearing systems, especially the Oticon Medical Ponto. Saturday’s event was hosted by Oticon Medical bringing together some of the many advocates who have advocated for the Ponto over the years. Alan Raffauf spoke about advocacy and how much he has enjoyed these times together with everyone over the years and learning about everyone’s individual journeys to help someone they love hear better. Alan described advocacy as “to change “what is” into “what should be”. Melissa and her daughter, Ally, are two of Oticon Medical’s oldest Ponto advocates. Ally was aided with the Oticon Medical Ponto Pro at 11 months of age in 2010 and is now aided with the Ponto 5 Superpower. Since then, the mom and daughter duo team have been advocating for better hearing, especially for the Microtia and Atresia community with Ponto. Thank you to Alan Raffauf for embracing advocacy and for giving community members, like the Tumblin Family, the opportunity to advocate for children and adults, as well as their loved ones, giving them the opportunity to thrive.

Melissa stated that “It was an absolute honor to receive the Ambassador Leadership Award and that the past 12 years of collaborating with Oticon Medical have been such an amazing journey that she will always cherish.” Over the years, Melissa and Ally had the opportunity to meet many advocates, young and older, and have felt like the bond between everyone has become a family advocating for the same need while getting to know each other’s journey and learning more of the different struggles individuals have when it comes to hearing loss. At the advocacy meeting, Justin Pfeiffer (VP of Sales) of Oticon Medical, wore his National Microtia and Atresia awareness wristband that he has worn over the years ever since attending one of Ear Community’s summer events. A special thank you to Brendalys Trinidad for all of her support over the years managing the advocacy events and going above and beyond for every advocate. The support that the Tumblin Family and Ear Community has received over the years as a collaborative partner with Oticon Medical has been truly amazing and it is moments like this that mean so much to the Melissa and Ally and her family as well as to the Microtia and Atresia community.

Thank you to everyone over the years at Oticon Medical US, including the Danish, Canadian, French, South African and Malaysian teams for collaborating with Ear Community when helping those in need of a bone anchored hearing system be able to obtain one through Ear Community. Ear Community has donated over 150 bone conduction hearing systems since 2012. Many of these hearing devices were made available with Oticon Medical’s help and Ear Community will forever be grateful. Thank you to the friendships made and the shared passion behind helping children and adults hear their best. Here’s to the amazing times we’ve shared all these years and to the amazing times yet to come!

On April 27th, 2022, a press release announced the acquisition of Oticon Medical by Cochlear, the global leader in implantable solutions for hearing loss. As part of the transaction, Cochlear has committed to providing ongoing support for Oticon Medical’s base of more than 75,000 hearing implant recipients, which includes cochlear and acoustic implants. Cochlear has also committed to seeking the develop of products that will be compatible with existing Oticon Medical implants, so a patient will be able to continue to access the new sound processor technology with their existing implant. This was an overall decision for Demant, Oticon Medical’s parent company, to discontinue its efforts in hearing implants, but to also find a company (Cochlear) who would go on to care for and continue support of the Ponto hearing device product line.

Here are some wonderful memories from the event.

Filed Under: Events, History

Congressman Neguse visits with advocate Ally Tumblin, the little girl behind Ally’s Act, H.R. 477

June 28, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Congressman Joe Neguse pictured (right) with the Tumblin Family, the family behind H.R. 477, also known as Ally’s Act. (6/25/2022)

On Saturday, June 25th, 2022, we had the honor of Congressman Joe Neguse joining us at our Colorado Ear Community picnic in Broomfield! Congressman Neguse was also finally able to meet the Tumblin family in person, especially Ally! Ally Tumblin wrote to Congressman Neguse in May of 2019 during Better Hearing and Speech Month, asking him to help her advocate to hear better and he did just that by introducing legislation honoring Ally called Ally’s Act! Shortly after, Congressman Neguse introduced a Federal bill on December that would help improve private insurance coverage for bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants for children and adults from birth to age 64! The last time Ally’s mom, Melissa, had met with Congressman Neguse in person was on September 20th, 2019 in Washington DC before the pandemic began and before our bill, Ally’s Act, H.R. 477 (previously 5485) was introduced by Congressman Neguse. It was an amazing day getting to see him again along with my family on Saturday, said “Melissa!”

During our event, The Ear Community Organization honored Congressman Neguse with an award on behalf of the Microtia and Atresia community for helping give our children and adults a voice to advocate to hear better with better private insurance coverage for bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants with Ally’s Act, H.R. 477 (previously H.R. 5485). It was such an amazing day!

It was such an honor to have Congressman Neguse join us at the headquarter Ear Community event in Broomfield, CO. About 50 Microtia and Atresia families joined us on our special day along with medical professionals. The very first Colorado Ear Community picnic was hosted in June of 2011 by the Tumblin Family. Since then, the Tumblin Family and Ear Community have gone on to  host nearly 100 picnics in the United States and abroad, bringing thousands of Microtia and Atresia families together along with medical professionals. Ear Community has donated nearly 150 bone anchored hearing aids to those in need and who have been denied by insurance providers since 2012. The Microtia and Atresia community, including members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community who wear bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants are hopeful for a hearing for H.R. 477 this year with House Energy and Commerce Committee members. A hearing request for H.R. 477 has been submitted by members of this committee. With passage of Ally’s Act, H.R. 477, this bill would help the less than 350,000 children and adults who require the use of bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants who are often left out and overlooked by their private insurers.

We are asking everyone to write, email and call members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, asking them to support and cosponsor Ally’s Act, H.R. 477. More information about and how to support this bill can be found at: https://earcommunity.org/about/allys-act-h-r-5485/ 

Below are some great memories showing Congressman Neguse holding the letter that Ally wrote to him along with Melissa and Ally Tumblin holding a copy of the Ally’s Act, H.R. 477 bill and the letter we received from Congressman Neguse on how he would support Ally by helping her advocate to hear better with Ally’s Act! Thank you to Congressman Neguse for hearing our voices and for wanting to help us! Thank you for helping give our children and adults a voice to advocate for improved hearing healthcare with H.R. 477! Photographer credit goes to Kamen Guentchev.

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

#allysact #EarCommunity #microtiaandatresia #microtiakidsrock #boneanchoredhearingaids #cochlearimplant #hearingloss #advocacy #nonprofit #auralatresia

Filed Under: Events, History

From one Mom’s heart during Better Hearing and Speech Month

May 27, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Nicole Mazer and her son, Barrett, promoting education and raising awareness about Microtia and Aural Atresia during Better Hearing and Speech Month!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month – a time to educate and promote awareness about hearing and speech!

Meet Nicole Mazer and her sweet son, Barrett! When Barrett was born with bilateral Microtia and Atresia, Nicole and her family felt a little lost along the way and alone. Thankfully, Nicole’s family found our Ear Community Organization! Microtia and Aural Atresia is a rare congenital condition that occurs in 1 out of every 6,000 births in the United States. Being a rare cause, not every medical facility is going to have enough information for families who have children born without ears and no ear canals, resulting in loss. As a thank you from Nicole and Barrett and their family, the Mazer family wanted to help pay it forward! Not only did Nicole want to help promote education about Microtia and Atresia, but she also wanted to raise awareness by involving the community by helping others learn more about Microtia and Atresia! In addition, she wanted to also help give back our organization – helping Ear Community can continue to help other families who have children and adults with Microtia and Atresia!

Nicole wanted to get the community involved and help make a difference – and that she did! First, Nicole wanted to help bring awareness about this rare cause to her high school she attended at Clearview Regional High School in Mullica Hill, NJ! She and her mom, Cindy, reached out to Clearview Regional’s ASL Club where she and Barrett presented on Microtia and Aural Atresia, which is one of many different ways congenital hearing loss can occur. Clearview Regional High School’s ASL Club hosted a jeans day that raised $257.00 for our Ear Community Organization during Nicole and Barrett’s presentation. A special thank you to Special Education Teacher and ASL Club Advisor, Kirsti Gimpel, for welcoming Nicole, Barrett and Cindy at Clearview Regional High School to share about our rare cause! A special thank you to Marilyn Goetz for organizing the jeans day fundraiser at Clearview Regional High School for our Organization!

For months, the Mazer Family also worked on planning another public fundraiser to help the Ear Community Organization raise funds for the good the organization does. Nicole and Barrett hosted a fun and educational fundraiser at Top Golf for friends and family where they showed a slide presentation during the event on Microtia and Atresia! Nicole organized slides that had statistics and images of Microtia ears and information about hearing loss (Aural Atresia) along with lots of helpful information to educate everyone during the golf event! While promoting education and raising awareness during the Top Golf event for our rare cause, Nicole’s family raised a total of $2,300.00 for our Ear Community Organization! ❤️ A tremendous “Thank You” to Nicole and Barrett and their family! In addition to Nicole’s family raising funds to help give back to nonprofits like Ear Community, Nicole’s sister, Liz Mazer, has also embraced supporting the Microtia and Atresia community by individually contributing to the Ear Community Organization as well as involving her employer, EJF Capitol, in being involved in community outreach and support to grassroots organizations.

Our Ear Community Organization is so proud of Nicole and Barrett and the Mazer Family for wanting to help raise awareness about Microtia and Atresia to help makes things easier on the next family that has a child born with Microtia and Aural Atresia! Especially during Better Hearing and Speech Month! Nicole and Barrett – you both are AMAZING advocates for our cause  and our community! Thank you for your amazing support and for wanting to help educate in your community! ❤️👂Our organization is grateful for YOU and your advocacy!

Below are some fun memories from Nicole and Barrett’s school presentation!

Thank you so much for all of your help and support!
Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

 

Filed Under: Events, History

Cochlear agrees to acquire Oticon Medical, Demant’s hearing implants business

April 27, 2022 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASX Announcement 27 April 2022

1 University Avenue
Macquarie University
NSW 2109  AUSTRALIA
www.cochlear.com

Cochlear Limited, a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, agrees to acquire Oticon Medical for DKK 850million (approx.AUD170million) following Demant’s decision to exit its hearing implants business activities. As part of the transaction, Cochlear has committed to providing ongoing support for Oticon Medical’s base of more than 75,000 hearing implant recipients, which includes cochlear and acoustic implants.

Cochlear’s CEO & President, Dig Howitt said, “We look forward to welcoming Oticon Medical’s implant customers to the Cochlear family. Driven by our mission to innovate and deliver a lifetime of hearing outcomes, we will seek to ensure that Oticon Medical’s customers continue to be supported with a life time of hearing solutions. We will work closely with Demant to ensurea seamless transition, with continued access to current Oticon Medical technology for customers in the coming years. We will develop next generation sound processors and services that will enable customers to transition to and benefit from Cochlear’s technology platform overtime.

The acquisition of Oticon Medical will provide us with greater scale and will enable us to increase our investments in R&D and market growth activities. While Cochlear is a market leader in implantable hearing, we are a small player in the hearing loss segment where hearing aids remain the primary treatment option. Our goal is to improve the penetration of implantable hearing solutions, building customer awareness and confidence, and offering more patient shearing solutions best suited to their individual needs.

“Oticon Medical is expected to add AUD 75‐80 million to annual revenue. The business is currently loss making. Our priority post‐closing of the transaction will be to determine and implement a plan that returns the business to profitability as quickly as possible. Integration costs, which include the development of compatible next generation sound processors, are yet to be determined and could range from $30 ‐ 60 million. We continue to target along‐term net profit margin of 18%.”

To comply with French labour law requirements, the proposed transaction will be subject to a mandatory consultation process with Oticon Medical’s Nice‐based employee works council. Completion of the transaction will be conditional on satisfaction of customary closing conditions and receipt of competition approvals injurisdictions where the transaction meets relevant notification thresholds. The acquisition will be funded from existing cash balances and is expected to close in the second half of 2022. Cochlear will not be assuming any liability for issues that may arise from the voluntary field corrective action for Oticon Medical’s Neuro Zti cochlear implant announced in October 2021.

For further information, please contact:

Filed Under: Events, History

Demant A/S: Divestment of Hearing Implants

April 27, 2022 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

27.4.2022 08:01:11 CEST | Demant A/S | Inside information Company announcement
no 2022-09 27 April 2022

Demant intends to divest its Hearing Implants business, while ensuring lifelong support of existing patients.

Demant has negotiated an agreement with the intention to divest its Hearing Implants business, Oticon Me-dical, to Cochlear Limited for a total consideration of DKK 850 million. The transaction follows a review of strategic options for the business area, including how to ensure the best lifelong support of existing patients.

Since the establishment of its Hearing Implants business in 2007, Demant has invested significantly in implantable solutions for the treatment of hearing loss, and the employees of Oticon Medical have worked tirelessly to bring industry-leading technology to thousands of patients, reaching many major milestones along the way. However, Demant has now concluded that the prospect of becoming a global leader in hearing implants is not achievable within a reasonable time frame without disproportionate levels of investments and significant dilution of the Group’s profitability. In this light, Demant has taken the decision to discontinue its efforts in hearing implants.

As a result, Demant believes it is in the best interest of both patients and the company to divest its Hearing Implants business to Cochlear, which is the global leader in implantable solutions for hearing loss. As part of the transaction,Cochlear has committed to servicing existing patients of Oticon Medical now and in the future.

“Overcoming the challenges of hearing loss – and living with implant technology to alleviate this – is a lifelong journey, and we believe it is best for our patients to continue this journey with Cochlear. We will do everything in our power to ensure minimal implications of the intended divestment for customers and patients as well as the employees of Oticon Medical,who have delivered beyond expectations and are some of the brightest minds in the industry,” says, Søren Nielsen,President & CEO of Demant, and continues.”

“Demant remains fully committed to hearing healthcare and audio technology. We will continue to grow and expand in hearing aids, hearing care and diagnostics, where we are uniquely positioned to service users and customers from the firstscreening, over the first fitting to continued personalised care, and to pursue the strong growth potential in Communications with our EPOS brand.”

“Dig Howitt, Cochlear’s CEO & President, adds: “We look forward to welcoming Oticon Medical’s entire base of implant customers and patients to the Cochlear family. Driven by our mission to innovate and deliver a lifetime of hearing outcomes, we will seek to ensure that Oticon Medical’s customers and patients continue to be supported with a lifetime ofhearing solutions. We will work closely with Demant to ensure a seamless transition of the business to Cochlear to ensure continued access to current Oticon Medical technology for customers and patients in the coming years. We will develop next-generation sound processors and services that will enable customers to transition to and benefit from Cochlear’s technology platform over time. The acquisition of Oticon Medical will provide us with greater scale and will enable us to increase our investments in R&D and market growth activities.”

Transaction details:  The transaction involves the divestment of Demant’s Hearing Implants business area, which comprises its cochlear implants(CI) and bone anchored hearing systems (BAHS) product categories. Of the total consideration of DKK 850 million, DKK 700million will be paid in cash at closing and DKK 150 million within 18 months after closing.

Subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in H2 2022,following consultation of relevant workers’ councils.

Financial impact:  In 2021, Hearing Implants realised revenue of DKK 512 million and EBIT of DKK -117 million, and the business area thus had a dilutive impact on the Group’s EBIT margin of 1.2 percentage points.

 

 

Going forward, Hearing Implants will be recognised separately as a discontinued operation in the Group’s financial reporting, and comparative figures will be restated to reflect this. As a consequence, Hearing Implants will neither be included in the Group’s EBIT nor in the Group’s outlook for continuing operations.

Excluding Hearing Implants from the Group’s outlook for 2022 has a positive impact of around DKK 150 million on the Group’s expected EBIT for the full year. Consequently, the Group now expects EBIT of DKK 3,600-3,900 million (previously DKK 3,450-3,750 million). The impact on other outlook metrics is neutral.

The profit after tax of discontinued operations in 2022 is expected to be negative by around DKK 150-200 million. This mostly reflects the expected operating loss in Hearing Implants, which may be further negatively impacted by the announced transaction in the period until closing, and also certain one-off items, such as the fair value adjustment of assets and liabilities that reflects the realised sales price and transaction costs. The net impact of the one-off items is expected to be roughly neutral, subject to adjustments for working capital and other items at closing.

There are no changes to the Group’s medium- to long-term outlook.

Conference call details:  Demant will host a conference call on 27 April 2022 at 14:00 CEST. To attend this call, please use one of the following dial-ins: +45 7876 8490 (DK), +44 2037 696 819 (UK) or +1 6467 870 157 (US). The pin code is 314337. A presentation for the call will be uploaded to www.demant.com shortly before the call.

 

About Demant:  Demant is a world-leading hearing healthcare and technology Group built on a heritage of care, health and innovation since1904. The Group offers innovative technologies, solutions and know-how to help improve people’s health and hearing.Headquartered in Denmark, the Group employs approx. 18,100 people globally and is present with solutions in 130countries where we create life-changing hearing health. William Demant Foundation is the majority shareholder in Demant A/S, which is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen as a blue-chip stock.

About Oticon Medical:  Oticon Medical is a global company in implantable hearing solutions, dedicated to bringing the power of sound to people at every stage of life. Oticon Medical’s competencies span more than a century of innovations in sound processing and decades of pioneering experience in hearing implant technology. Oticon Medical works collaboratively with patients,physicians and hearing care professionals to ensure that every solution is designed with users’ needs in mind. Oticon Medical has a strong passion to provide innovative solutions and support that enhance the quality of life and help people live full lives – now and in the future.

About Cochlear Limited:  People have always been Cochlear’s inspiration, ever since Professor Graeme Clark set out to create the first multi-channel cochlear implant after seeing his father struggle with hearing loss. Since 1981, Cochlear has provided more than 650,000devices in more than 180 countries, helping people of all ages around the world to hear. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear connects people with life’s opportunities and welcomes them to the world’s largest hearing implant community.Cochlear has a global workforce of more than 4,000 people, with a passion for progress, who strive to meet the needs of people living with hearing loss. The company continually innovates to anticipate future needs, investing more than AUD 2billion to date in research and development to push the boundaries of technology and help more people hear.

About Demant A/S:  Demant is a world-leading hearing healthcare group that offers solutions and services to help people with hearing loss connect with the world around them. In every aspect, from hearing devices, hearing implants, diagnostics to audio and video solutions and hearing care all over the world, Demant is active and engaged. Our innovative technologies and know-how help improve people’s health and hear-ing. We create life-changing differences through hearing health.

2022-09 Divestment of Hearing Implants

 

Filed Under: Events, History

Introducing the NEW Ponto 5 Superpower by Oticon Medical

March 31, 2022 By Leave a Comment

INTRODUCING – The Ponto 5 SuperPower by Oticon Medical!
March, 31, 2022
_______________________________________________
Oticon Medical proudly reveals the newest member of the Ponto family – the Ponto 5 SuperPower, the newest powerful hero!

– Small, powerful and packed with breakthrough technology, Ponto 5 SuperPower gives you constant access to clear, detailed, 360° sound for the freedom to focus on what you want. For more information on the newly launched Ponto 5 SuperPower, please visit here!

There is also a FREE technology upgrade offer. For details on the FREE technology upgrade offer, visit here!
https://www.oticonmedical.com/us/bone-conduction/solutions/upgrades/ponto-upgrade
www.oticonmedical.com/us/

#Ponto5 #SuperPower #BAHS #SoundMatters

Thank you!
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

Filed Under: Events, History

Denver girl receives the gift of hearing thanks to Cochlear Americas and Ear Community

March 11, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Meet nine-year-old Paula from Denver, Colorado! Paula was born with Microtia and Aural Atresia, leaving her with conductive hearing loss in her right ear. Originally from Mexico, Paula’s family moved to the United States in 2018. Now that Paula is nine, her parents noticed she seemed to be struggling more with her hearing loss. With Paula being in elementary school, her family didn’t want her to struggle in the school classroom. Paula’s most recent audiometric evaluation indicated a profound rising to a moderately severe conductive hearing loss in her right ear. With this information, Paula’s audiologist, Dr. Vanessa Olivares, shared with the Paula and her family that a bone conduction hearing device could help her hear better. Paula’s mother, Sehila Mendias Ponce de Leon was relieved that there was a hearing device available to help her daughter hear. Unfortunately, the insurance provider for the family does not cover “hearing aids” and denied coverage for a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid for Paula.

Now realizing that Paula needed a hearing device, her family was concerned about the cost of a hearing device without insurance coverage. Thankfully, Paula’s audiology team at the Denver Health Audiology Clinic were able to find some helpful resources that could help Paula obtain a hearing device. Dr. Olivares reached out to the Ear Community Organization by helping Paula’s mom apply for a hearing device. Ear Community was happy to respond that the organization would help Paula obtain a hearing device! Thanks to the help of one of Ear Community’s collaborative partners, Cochlear Americas, Paula was able to receive the gift of hearing so she could feel comfortable being herself and enjoy hearing life’s everyday sounds like her peers, family and friends!

On Friday, February 11th, just in time for St. Valentine’s Day, Paula was fitted with a newly donated Baha 6! Since being fitted with her new Baha 6, Paula is able to experience better quality of sound. She also enjoys using the smart app where she can stream music and movies and also control the volume with her microphone at school.

A special thank you to Dr. Vanessa Olivares for donating her time and services to help fit and program Paula’s new Baha 6! Thank you to Keesha Pfeiffer of Cochlear Americas for helping donate Paula’s Baha 6 to our Ear Community Organization so we could help another child in need like Paula! Ear Community is so proud to collaborate with Cochlear Americas when coming together to help individuals who are in need within the Microtia and Atresia community. “Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. It has a dedicated global team of more than 2,500 people who deliver the gift of sound to those with hearing loss in over 100 countries. Its vision is to connect people, young and old, to a world of sound by offering life enhancing hearing solutions. In 2013, Cochlear celebrated 100,000 Baha System users – all with unique stories of how being able to hear again has impacted their lives. The Cochlear promise of “Hear Now. And Always” embodies the company’s commitment to providing its recipients with the best possible hearing performance today and for the rest of their lives.

Everyone at Ear Community is happy excited for Paula to hear her best in the school classroom, at home and out with friends! Congratulations on being able to hear so much better now!
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

Filed Under: Events, History

Young girl receives the gift of hearing thanks to Oticon Medical Canada and Ear Community

February 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Meet Tamara from Scarborough, Ontario! Tamara is a sweet, happy little girl excited to be in school and learn all that she can! Tamara was born with Microtia and Atresia of her right ear. Now that Tamara is seven years old starting elementary school, Tamara noticed she was struggling to hear well in the school classroom. Her mother, Amad, took her to get her hearing checked. During Tamara’s hearing test, their audiologist educated them on a hearing device called a bone anchored hearing system and how this hearing device could help Tamara hear better. Once Amad saw the results of Tamara’s audiogram, showing how her hearing loss was brought back up within normal hearing range when aided, she was so excited to help her daughter hear better with a hearing device. When taking the next steps to obtain a BAHS, the family surprisingly learned that they were not covered by the National Healthcare program in Canada. As a result, Amad was faced with an out of pocket quote for $6,600 for a BAHS if she wanted to help her daughter hear.

Not knowing how she was going to find help obtaining a BAHS for Tamara, Amad discovered the Ear Community Organization! She reached out to Ear Community for a hearing device for her daughter along with help from their audiologist, Dr. Dana Song. Amad was overjoyed to learn that Ear Community would be able to donate a new Ponto 5 Bone Anchored Hearing System from Oticon Medical for Tamara to hear better with! On February 7th, 2022, Tamara was fitted with her new Ponto 5 thanks to Oticon Medical through the Ear Community Organization! Tamara’s smile says exactly how happy she is to hear better now with her new Oticon Medical Ponto 5! Ear Community is so proud to have helped another child hear thanks to Oticon Medical partnering with our organization, helping children with Microtia and Aural Atresia! A special thank you to Tamara’s audiologist, Dr. Dana Song at Sick Kids, for donating her time and services to fit and program Tamara with her new Ponto 5!

A very special thank you to Kate Yakimow, Director of Oticon Medical Canada, Janna Brubacher and also Siiry Fortey of Oticon Medical Canada for helping with Tamara’s Ponto 5 at her fitting. 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. Ear Community would also like to thank our donors and members of the community who want to help our organization continue our work – none of this would be possible without your support! We are so happy to have been a part of helping Tamara hear better!

Everyone at Ear Community is excited to know that Tamara will thrive everyday while hearing her best with her new Ponto!
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

Filed Under: Events, History

Ally’s Act, H.R. 477, a Bipartisan Bill to Require Coverage of Implantable Hearing Devices Needs Your Support!

February 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment

 

 

H.R. 477, Ally’s Act, is a bicameral/bipartisan federal bill that would ensure private insurers cover medically necessary bone-anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants for children and adults, ages birth through 64 years.

Bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants address unique corrective requirements for specific forms of hearing loss, and are typically the only treatment for these specific hearing losses. Hearing is critical for young children’s speech and spoken language development. Untreated hearing loss in adults is associated with significant negative consequences including poorer quality of life. Yet, these life-changing treatments for hearing loss are often denied by insurers. Ally’s Act requires that medically necessary bone-anchored hearing aids, cochlear implants, and the accompanying medical and audiological visits, are covered by private insurers to help ensure no person is left unable to hear due to insurance coverage issues.

A hearing has been requested for this bill with members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

If you believe that medically necessary, life-changing treatments for hearing loss should be covered by insurance, we need your help!

Please ask your representative to co-sponsor this bill and ask for a hearing! Share your story, or use the following script:

Hello!  Please support House Bill 477, also known as Ally’s Act. This is a bicameral/bipartisan national level bill that would ensure private insurers cover specialized implantable hearing devices known as bone-anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants when they are medically necessary. This bill would help children and adults, from birth to age 64 years, to have better access to life-changing treatment, allowing them to fully participate in the workplace and community.  Please review this legislation as a hearing has been requested by members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Congressman David McKinley is the original co-sponsor for this bill. Thank you!

If your representative is on the House Energy and Commerce Committee you may contact them at their office phone numbers listed below:

Frank Pallone NJ (202) 225-4671
Anna Eshoo CA (202) 225-8104
Kathy Castor FL (202) 225-3376
John Sarbanes MD (202) 225-4016
Jerry McNerney VT (202) 225-1947
Kurt Schrader OR (202) 225-5711
Raul Ruiz CA (202) 225-5330
Scott Peters CA (202) 225-0508
Debbie Dingell MI (202) 225-4071
Marc Veasey TX (202) 225-9897
Ann Kuster NH (202) 225-5206
Robin Kelly IL (202) 225-0773
Nanette Diaz Barragan CA (202) 225-8220
A. Donald McEachin VA (202) 225-6365
Lisa Blunt Rochester DE (202) 225-4165
Darren Soto FL (202) 225-9889
Tom O’Halleran AZ (202) 225-3361
Kathleen Rice NY (202) 225-5516
Kim Schrier WA (202) 225-7761
Lori Trahan MA (202) 225-3411
Lizzie Fletcher TX (202) 225-2571
Cathy McMorris Rodgers WA (202) 225-2006
Fred Upton MI (202) 225-3761
Michael Burgess TX (202) 225-7772
Steve Scalise LA (202) 225-3015
Robert Latta OH (202) 225-6405
Brett Guthrie KY (202) 225-3501
Adam Kinzinger IL (202) 225-3635
H. Morgan Griffith VA (202) 225-3861
Gus Bilirakis FL (202) 225-5755
Bill Johnson OH (202) 225-5705
Billy Long MO (202)225-6536
Larry Buchson IN (202) 225-4636
Markwayne Mullin OK (202) 225-2701
Richard Hudson NC (202) 225-3715
Tim Walberg MI (202) 225-6276
Earl Carter GA (202) 225-5831
Jeff Duncan SC (202) 225-5301
Gary Palmer AL (202) 225-4921
Neal Dunn FL (202) 225-5235
John Curtis UT (202) 225-7751
Debbie Lesko AZ (202) 225-4576
Greg Pence IN (202) 225-3021
Dan Crenshaw TX (202) 225-6565
John Joyce PA (202) 225-2431
Kelly Armstrong ND (202) 225-2611

 

For more information about Ally’s Act, please read the press release from Congressman Joe Neguse, watch this video from CBS Denver, visit Ear Community at www.earcommunity.org, or email earcommunity@gmail.com

Thank you so much for your continued support of Ally’s Act, H.R. 477!
Link to AO press release.

Source: Ear Community

Filed Under: Events, History

Oticon Medical Announces FDA clearance of Ponto 5 SuperPower

January 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Somerset, NJ
1/5/2022 12:00:00 AM

The FDA has cleared the new Ponto 5 SuperPower sound processor, which will be available for sale in spring 2022. This product marks the first time that the revolutionary open sound experience will be available in a bone anchored SuperPower device. With a fitting range up to 65 dB HL BC, the Ponto 5 SuperPower delivers powerful sound to help more people get the right solution for their hearing loss. And it is packed with breakthrough features, including industry-first feedback prevention, all in the world’s smallest SuperPower.

Oticon Medical announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the new Ponto 5 SuperPower sound processor, expanding the ground-breaking Ponto 5 family product line. Introducing full SuperPower strength in the smallest SuperPower device ever available, the Ponto 5 SuperPower also delivers significant advancements in sound processor technology – including a patented feature to prevent audible feedback – along with a sleek cosmetic design.

It represents a major advancement of our mission to empower all users by providing the best possible sound experience.

One of the most exciting breakthroughs in the industry, the patented OpenSound Optimizer™ technology in the Ponto 5 SuperPower cracks the code of how to prevent feedback. It works by detecting and preventing audible feedback from occurring, rather than managing feedback by reducing amplification. This enables audiologists to fit users with up to 5 dB† of extra stable gain without compromising on the dynamics of sound.1

In addition, the pioneering OpenSound Navigator™ technology gives users access to their full 360° soundscape, rather than simply focusing on speech as traditional technologies do. This provides users with greater focus and awareness of their surroundings and has been confirmed in a study to significantly improve speech understanding.*2

This combination of unique features works seamlessly across listening environments to deliver breakthrough fuller sound, without the risk of audible feedback.**1

Commenting on the clearance, Jes Olsen, President of Oticon Medical, says, “I’m incredibly proud of this product, and I see the FDA clearance as an acknowledgement of our significant accomplishment and of the ability of this important device to help people with hearing loss. I look forward to our product launch in the near future and to helping even more people get access to powerful sound and the benefits of BrainHearing™ technology. It represents a major advancement of our mission to empower all users by providing the best possible sound experience.”

As part of the Ponto 5 family, the new Ponto 5 SuperPower is also designed with premium details. These include easy connectivity and streaming, the Oticon RemoteCare platform for access to care from anywhere, as well as the state-of-the-art reliability, durability and product quality that have become synonymous with Ponto.

The Ponto 5 SuperPower will become available in the spring of 2022.

†When measured on Ponto 5 SuperPower relative to Ponto 3 SuperPower
*Increased speech understanding when comparing performance with OpenSound Navigator ON relative to OpenSound Navigator OFF.
** For prescribed fittings, according to best practice and during normal use.

1 Data on file at Oticon Medical
2 Data on File – Clinical study BC109

Because sound matters

Oticon Medical is a global company in implantable hearing solutions, dedicated to bringing the power of sound to people at every stage of life. As part of the Demant Group, a global leader in hearing healthcare with more than 16,500 people in over 30 countries and users benefitting from our products and solutions in more than 130 countries, we have access to one of the world’s strongest research and development teams, the latest technological advances, and insights into hearing care. Our competencies span more than a century of innovations in sound processing and decades of pioneering experience in hearing implant technology. We work collaboratively with patients, physicians, and hearing care professionals to ensure that every solution we create is designed with users’ needs in mind. We have a strong passion to provide innovative solutions and support that enhance quality of life and help people live full lives – now and in the future. Because we know how much sound matters.

For more information about the Newly Launched Ponto 5 Superpower, please click here.

Filed Under: Events, History
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