Ear Community and the CARE Team Study present at the 2025 ACPA Annual Meeting

May 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment
Ear Community and the CARE Study Team present at the 2025 ACPA in Palm Springs, CA

The CARE Team presents at the 2025 ACPA Annual Meeting

What a wonderful time attending the ACPA – Annual American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association’s Meeting, last week in Palm Springs, CA! It was wonderful seeing so many friends, colleagues and advocates again! I am always reminded at ACPA of how grateful I am knowing how many medical professionals, researchers and advocates continue working on what is needed for our children and families!

This year, I am especially proud of our panel that presented on the importance of integrating family stakeholders when it comes to research and community outreach for rare causes. Our panel presented on “Enhancing Craniofacial Research: Integrating Family Stakeholders”, sharing how important collaboration is between both family stakeholders and with medical professionals. Our CARE Team also made many informative presentations during this year’s meeting!

I am so pleased with the important and much needed work our CARE Team has completed over the past 5 years on our grant project, which has helped improve the caregiver experience for microtia, atresia and craniofacial microsomia families! When navigating your way as a parent of a child who is born with a rare congenital anomaly, there is often a lack of information making it difficult to find answers, including limited research being available or knowing where to find it, not to mention being given any kind of guidelines that can help families find their way. The information that our CARE Team has gathered and presented on has absolutely made improvements for caregivers, which in turn will help make things easier for the next families and medical professionals as we travel our journeys, together.

Thank you to everyone on our CARE Team for all the good we do together! Thank you to Adam Levy and everyone at the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association for creating such an important meeting for so many to come together annually and share to make things better!

Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director
Ear Community
Filed Under: Events, History

In Honor of Bone Anchored Awareness Day – Ear Community Advocates for Ally’s Act in Washington, D.C.

May 5, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Sean Callinicos and Ryan McDevitt advocating for Ally’s Act in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 2nd, 2025.

In honor of Bone Anchored Awareness Day, also known as “Good Vibrations Day,” our Ear Community Organization has been advocating for Ally’s Act, a federal piece of legislation ensuring private insurers cover Bone Anchored Hearing Systems & Cochlear Implants, for children & adults from birth to age 64!

Yesterday, May 2nd, Ear Community’s lobbyists/advocates, Sean Callinicos & Ryan McDevitt, spent the day on The Hill in Washington, D.C. advocating for Ally’s Act, meeting with Congressional & Senate offices! It is incredibly important that this bill passes for many of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Communities, including our community of microtia & atresia children & adults! Sean & Ryan donated their time yesterday to meet with Congressmen John Rutherford (R-FL) & Glenn Grothman’s (R-WI) offices, including Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) office. Thank you so much for your advocacy and for helping fight for what our community needs!

Thank you to the microtia & atresia families & the medical professionals who wrote letters, asking for support of this bill! These letters were personally hand carried & given to the offices that Sean & Ryan met with!

While these hearing devices are covered by private insurers, they are frequently denied by them as well, creating significant barriers to care. These denials often override the medical determinations made by physicians, effectively placing critical healthcare decisions in the hands of insurers rather than professionals.

When private insurers only cover some people with insurance & yet deny others who are also insured under the same to similar plans – it creates uncertainty for consumers by establishing financial barriers for those who already pay for private insurance. Especially, when specific medically necessary devices are purposely “excluded from coverage”. Private insurers frequently override the medical diagnosis provided by our physicians when denying coverage for hearing devices, creating additional barriers for patients in need. Passage of Ally’s Act would make this coverage consistent!

WE WANT ALLY’S ACT TO PASS!

Thank you again to Sean and Ryan for advocating for our community! Ryan’s daughter, Brooke, also has microtia & atresia just like Ally does, the little girl behind Ally’s Act. Thank you to The Ear Community Organization, the many advocates and endorsers who continue to advocate for Ally’s Act to pass!

Here are some of our amazing advocates meeting with members of Congress and the Senate about why Ally’s Act is needed!

Melissa Tumblin
Ear Community
Filed Under: Events, History

Spotlight on Ear Community’s Board of Directors

April 18, 2025 By Leave a Comment

The Ear Community Organization's Board of Directors, 2025.The Ear Community Organization’s Board Members are an invaluable resource when it comes to microtia, atresia and craniofacial microsomia! At Ear Community, we are all on the same journey and are willing to help others who are in the same situation in our community!Ear Community’s Board members either have microtia, atresia or craniofacial microsomia, are a parent of a child born with our rare cause or are a medical professional or educator.

For the past 15 years, Ear Community has had incredible Board members who are amazing parent or family advocates, pediatricians, audiologists, Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and therapists. Our organization recognizes that it is also a home and a safe place for our Board as well, being there for them and giving them the opportunity to help make a difference in our community for other microtia and atresia kids and adults and their families. Our Board, is honored to have invaluable role models and mentors that can help serve our community. We can help answer questions, share our experience about surgeries (ear reconstruction, jaw surgery, cholesteatomas, atresiaplasty and canalplasty, therapy and IEP and 504Plans in the school classroom), hearing devices or help you embrace being yourself just the way you are and of course share our stories because we are all on the same journey – and it is always great to compare notes! Many of our Board members found our organization because they were looking for a home – a safe place or to learn about their options, while others are happy to help educate and advocate, sharing the knowledge they already have from experience. Ear Community has always prided itself on everything we do to help give back to the microtia and atresia community, including our loving Board members who help in so many ways!

Whether you are looking for guidance or help or just someone to talk to who is in the same situation when it comes to microtia, aural atresia and craniofacial microsomia, Ear Community’s Board Members are happy to help provide guidance and information that can help you find what you are looking for! Some of our Board members wear bone conduction hearing device systems, some have had outer ear reconstructive surgery (Medpor, OmniPore, Supor) or rib graft, some wear prosthetic ears, some have overcome the struggles that come along with our rare cause and are happy to be a listening ear to others who are also struggling and some have embraced their little and missing ears and are happy with themselves just the way they are! Our Board is made up of AMAZING individuals!❤️ 👂

We look forward to seeing everyone at our organization’s summer picnic events each year! We also look forward to making a difference for our community, together, through all of Ear Community’s meaningful programs that help give back to our community directly, including donating hearing devices, awarding college scholarships, championing genetic research, educating and informing about options, connecting families through our priceless events, providing eyewear for microtia kids and helping audiologists give the gift of hearing through Pax’s Funds within Ear Community, advocating for Federal legislation known as Ally’s Act and so much more! Ear Community also has an incredible Advisory Board with some of the world’s most influential leaders embracing the work we do! Our organization loves what we do and we are happy to help!

Thank you!
Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director
Ear Community
Filed Under: Events, History

Ear Community among presenters at this year’s American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association

April 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Melissa Tumblin, Founder of Ear Community, presents at the 2025 American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association Meeting in Palm Springs, CA, May 9th.Melissa Tumblin, Founder of the Ear Community Organization, is proud to be a presenter at this year’s American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association Meeting taking place in Palm Springs, CA along with the CARE Study Team, a research team Ear Community has proudly been collaborating with for the past five years!

Our panel presentation, “Enhancing Craniofacial Research: Integrating Family Stakeholders,” will take place on Friday, May 9th at 7AM and will include Amy Schefer, Melissa Tumblin, Amy Mendillo, Lucy Pearse, Kris Pearse, Dr. Nicola Stock, Dr. Canice Crerand, Dr. Alexis Johns.

Authors: Stock NM, Herring B, Magee L, Johns AL, Crerand CE, Heike CL, Schefer A, Drake AF, Tumblin M, Feragen KB.

The CARE Study Team has conducted research that was needed in the microtia and atresia and craniofacial field. Thanks to our collaborative research efforts, our CARE Team is making things easier for the next family that has a child born with microtia and atresia and craniofacial microsomia! The CARE Team is comprised of a interdisciplinary group of more than 20 members from 7 countries including members who are advocates, researchers, and healthcare providers. Our team works out of two primary sites – Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the University of Bristol, West England in the UK. Our research team also includes a number of subcommittees and an Advisory Council as well.

Our CARE Study Team is proud to be making multiple presentations during the ACPA including having multiple papers accepted from our team’s research at this year’s meeting! Below is just one of the papers from our team’s contributions.

“Surgical Decision-Making Regarding Hearing and Ear Reconstruction in Craniofacial Microsomia: Exploring Caregiver Narratives,” – Manuscript Number: JCMS-D-24-00363R1, Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery. Published in January 2025. Authors:  Stock NM, Herring B, Magee L, Johns AL, Crerand CE, Heike CL, Schefer A, Drake AF, Tumblin M, Feragen KB.

For more information on our CARE research team and advisory board, visit: CARE Team

I am looking forward to seeing lots of our medical professional friends and fellow advocates at this year’s meeting!

Thank you!
Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director
Ear Community

Filed Under: Events, History

Jaden Williams Receives Ear Community College Scholarship

March 26, 2025 By Leave a Comment
Jaden Williams, Ear Community college scholarship recipient, 3/2025, Arizona Western College.

Jaden Williams, Ear Community college scholarship recipient, 3/2025, Arizona Western College.

Congratulations to Jaden Williams for being one of our Ear Community college scholarship recipients this year!

Jaden was born with bilateral microtia and atresia, who grew up in an orphanage in China without a hearing aid, struggling to hear and reading people’s lips, making it difficult for him to keep up with his classmates in school. Jaden remembers feeling isolated and frustrated, often wondering why he was different. Jaden was able to still find love while growing up in the orphanage. The Chinese people in the orphanage showed Jaden compassion, helping him find a loving home and offering emotional support during this challenging time in his life while coming to the United States. Jaden says, “This experience taught me the importance of being diligent in life and not giving up on facing challenges – values that I continue to carry with me to this day.”

After Jaden was adopted by his American mom and brought to the United States, he was given the opportunity to be aided with a bone conduction hearing device which transformed his life! Suddenly, he was able to engage in conversations, participate in class and connect with others in a way he had never been able to before! This change opened up a world of possibilities and gave him the confidence to pursue his dreams! Jaden is grateful to his teachers for helping him receive the support he needed to move forward, spending extra time with him to ensure he understood what he was learning and by helping him develop the skills he needed that are helping him thrive. It was their belief in him, along with his mother’s, that inspired him to work hard and strive for a bright future!

Jaden is excited for his future! He is determined to become an attorney and is currently pursuing his AA degree in Paralegal Studies from Arizona Western College. From there, Jaden is looking forward to earning his Bachelors Degree in legal studies and plans to apply to law school. He hopes that his career will go on to serve as a testament to the determination that is being defined through his own personal journey and to be an inspiration for others who may find themselves in a similar situation with Microtia and Atresia.

Congratulations, Jaden! We are SO PROUD of YOU! Thank you for reminding all of us that love and help go a long way and for the reminder of how important hearing is! You are an incredibly strong individual with amazing determination and drive that undoubtedly will help you soldier on creating that bright future you are in search of! Do great things, Jaden!
Thank you!
Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director
Ear Community

Filed Under: Events, History

2025 Ear Community Microtia and Atresia Summer Picnic Events

March 4, 2025 By Leave a Comment
Ear Community’s 2025 Microtia & Atresia Picnics are scheduled! ❤👂
2025 Summer Ear Community Microtia and Atresia Picnic Events FlierFamilies travel from surrounding states & other countries just to come to our Ear Community picnics! Our priceless picnics are FREE to Microtia & Atresia families! Join us for lunch, share your journey, learn about your options, enjoy lots of fun entertainment, watch the kids play & maybe even make a new friend!❤👂

Our picnic schedule is as follows:
June 14th – Idaho Falls, Idaho (orchestra in the park w/our picnic host, Dr. Daniel Baldwin). Drs. Grant Fairbanks & Russell Griffiths will also be joining us & many audiologists!
June 21st – Richmond, Virginia (water in the park fun w/our picnic hosts Joshua Shrader & Christopher Bowman). Dr. Brad Kesser will also be joining us & lots of audiologists!
June 28th – Wilton Manors, Florida (our picnic hosts are Clarissa Federico LaFirst & Jackson LaFirst). The University of Miami, including prosthetics expert, David Trainer, will also be joining us & lots of audiologists!
July 12th – Port Washington, New York (our picnic hosts are Kristina & Amelia Kosoglyadov). NYEE, Weill Cornell & Columbia U will also be joining us & lots of audiologists!
July 19th – Atlanta, Georgia (our picnic hosts Paxton & Lauren Hoyal). We’ll have Drs. Steven Goudy & David Chou joining us & lots of audiologists!
July 19th – Oakville, Ontario Canada (our picnic hosts are Kripa KR & Jahnu Raman & Silvia & Oliver Luu). The Sunnybrook craniofacial team will be joining us & lots of audiologists!
July 26th – Nashville, Tennessee (our picnic host is John Melson). * This picnic is in collaboration with the Vanderbilt Microtia & Atresia Clinic team w/Drs. Scott Scott James Stephan, Jason Park, Shi Yang, Priyesh Patel, Scott Fiscus, BCO / Precision Ocular Prosthetics & lots of audiologists!
*** A special thank you to our Proud Sponsors for helping make our special days possible!***
The Gross Family Foundation, Blue Chip Foundation & The Omnium Foundation!
Our Proud Platinum Sponsors!
Cochlear Americas
MED-EL USA
Oticon Medical

We look forward to seeing everyone this summer at an Ear Community picnic near you!
Melissa Tumblin
Filed Under: Events, History

Ear Community Honors World Hearing Day With Gift of Hearing – March 3, 2025

March 4, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Image of little boy (Romeo) who received a hearing device through Ear Community on World Hearing Day, 3/3/2025.In honor of World Hearing Day today, March 3, 2025, the Ear Community Organization was able to donate (1) Oticon Medical Ponto 5 Mini bone conduction hearing device and soft band headband to this sweet little boy, named Romeo, in Canada! Romeo is the proud recipient of a Ponto 5 Mini bone conduction hearing device, donated by Oticon Medical Canada, that will help him hear his best! Romeo was struggling with his hearing due to having hearing loss in his right ear because of being born with microtia and atresia. Often times in Canada, the NHS does not always provide a bone conduction hearing device to a child under the age of 5. This was Romeo’s struggle. Birth to 5 years of age is known as the critical years of development, which is such a critical time for children to hear their best as their vocabulary and language skills are developing. Thankfully, Romeo can hear his best now and his parents do not have to worry about him struggling to hear or miss a beat, allowing him to meet his speech milestones. Romeo’s family is so happy to have found our Ear Community Organization!

In addition to today’s gift of hearing, the Ear Community Organization, through Pax’s Ear Fund, was also able to help reimburse (2) separate audiologists in the state of Indiana for the programming and fitting fee for (2) more patients when their insurance provider denied this service for their hearing device! Thank you to Dr. Allison Stevenson at Hear Canada for helping with Romeo’s fitting and programming! A special thank you to Siiri Fortey and the Canadian Oticon Medical Team for donating this incredible gift of hearing (a Ponto 5 Mini) to Romeo, because sound matters! Thank you to Drs. Christine Bruce and Jayne Fields for helping their patients receive the gift of hearing when their patient’s insurance would not!

Ear Community is so very proud to have Pax’s Ear Fund in place to help those most in need of hearing still be given the opportunity to hear! A very special thank you to the Gross Family Foundation and Pax for making Pax’s Ear Fund possible, helping children like Romeo hear his best! ❤️👂

Little girl in Indiana who received a hearing device and financial help with her programming through Ear Community.Montgomery was able to have her hearing devices programmed on World Hearing Day thanks to Pax’s Ear Fund through our Ear Community Organization! Montgomery was born with bilateral microtia and atresia in Indiana. Even though Montgomery’s family’s insurance provider recognizes coverage for a bone conduction hearing device, the family’s insurer still denied the fitting and programming for her hearing device. Montgomery’s hearing device would not work properly or benefit her hearing loss unless programmed. Thanks to Pax’s Ear Fund, made possible by a sweet little boy named Pax and his Family, Montgomery’s audiologist, Dr. Jayne Fields in Indiana, was still able to give the gift of hearing to Montgomery thanks to Pax’s  Ear Fund offering reimbursement for this service that was denied through the family’s insurance! Here is a picture of Montgomery reading one of her favorite books on the way home from her audiology appointment, showing how she is able to go on with her day by hearing through her Oticon Medical Ponto 5 bone conduction hearing devices she wears! #WorldHearingDay

World Hearing Day, an observance designated by the World Health Organization, aims to promote ear and hearing care around the world. It is celebrated annually on March 3.

The 2025 World Hearing Day theme is “Changing Mindsets: Empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!”

There are many ways each one of us can ensure good hearing health throughout our lives:
1. Schedule an annual appointment with an audiologist for a complete hearing test to make sure your hearing is where it should be, staying on top of it in the event your hearing is changing.
2. If you cannot visit with an audiologist, please consider reaching out to your state health department for services that can provide a hearing screening.
3. Consider getting your hearing checked at a community health fair through your employer or community center when offered.
World Hearing Day ad for the WHO and the Ear Community OrganizationIf an individual is not born with hearing loss, hearing loss can sneak up on us when we least expect it! Be informed and know what your options are!
1. Hearing devices can help you get your life back! Visit with an audiologist or ENT to learn what your options are.
2. Millions of people wear hearing devices today without worrying about public stigma.

Please remember, our Ear Community Organization has Federal Legislation, known as Ally’s Act, in place to help our community have consistent coverage for bone conduction hearing devices and cochlear implants when it comes to private insurance coverage. *** Our bill will be re-introduced soon – please stay tuned in to our Ear Community website for updated information on how you can advocate for this piece of legislation on the Ally’s Act page!❤️

You can also find many hearing loss articles on Ear Community’s website and also learn about bone conduction hearing device systems at: https://earcommunity.org/hearing-loss/

Happy World Hearing Day!
Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director

Filed Under: Events, History

Cochlear Named Most Trustworthy Healthcare Company in the World

January 30, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Cochlear ranked most trustworthy healthcare companyDecember 30th, 2024
Cochlear, the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, is proud to announce that it has been named the number one most trustworthy company in the healthcare industry by Newsweek in its 2024 rankings of the World’s Most Trustworthy Companies. This prestigious recognition underscores Cochlear’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer-centricity.

The Newsweek ranking was conducted independently in collaboration with global data research firm Statista and evaluated companies based on customer, investor, and employee trust. Over 70,000 participants provided 269,000 evaluations, highlighting Cochlear’s exceptional reputation and dedication to improving the lives of those with hearing loss.

“At Cochlear we place a strong emphasis on customer service and support ensuring our recipients are at the heart of everything we do. Cochlear offers a comprehensive range of services to ensure that recipients of our devices receive the best possible care throughout their hearing journey. This includes rehabilitation programs through our Connected Care program, working with audiologists and hearing care professionals for continued support, and access to a global community of Cochlear recipients,” Dig Howitt, Chief Executive Officer & President of Cochlear said.

“Our dedication to our mission extends beyond our products and services. Cochlear is also committed to making a positive impact on society through initiatives aimed at raising awareness about hearing loss and advocating for greater access to hearing care,” Howitt continued.

“This recognition from Newsweek recognizes our commitment to making a difference to the lives of people with hearing loss.”

For more information about Cochlear and its innovative hearing solutions, please visit www.cochlear.com.

Filed Under: Events, History

MED-EL USA Offers Free One-Year Subscription to Meludia Online Music Training Program for New and Existing MED-EL Users

January 29, 2025 By Leave a Comment

January 29, 2025 – (DURHAM, NC) – MED-EL USA, a pioneer in hearing implant technology, today announced that new and existing MED-EL hearing implant recipients can access a year of the Meludia online music training program at no cost. This offering underscores MED-EL’s commitment to music appreciation and access for people living with hearing loss.

“For many people with hearing implants, music is a source of joy that they’re eager to fully experience. Finding engaging rehabilitation exercises uniquely suited to people with hearing implants can be a challenge. MED-EL recognizes the importance of both of these needs, and we are so excited to be offering a free one-year subscription to Meludia for all MED-EL implant recipients,” said Johanna Boyer, MED-EL’s in-house musicologist.

Meludia is an online music training program designed to help children and adults, from beginners to seasoned listeners, guide their own hearing journey. With easy-to-follow steps and a structured approach, Meludia makes learning, listening, and enjoying music more accessible for everyone. The comprehensive program, used for aural rehabilitation, focuses on five key parts of listening to music: melody; harmony; rhythm; spatialization; and form. The platform includes more than 600 exercises and one million sound sequences. Meludia is currently available in 23 languages, including English and Spanish.

“For people with hearing implants, Meludia helps the brain to use its full listening potential and sharpen listening skills using music in a simple and structured way that they never thought might be possible. It doesn’t matter how old a person is, how long they have used their cochlear implant, or how much musical experience they have,” said Vincent Chaintrier, Co-Founder of Meludia, Paris, France.

“MED-EL has led the way in the hearing implant industry when it comes to music appreciation and hearing loss. Our innovative technology is designed to maximize access to music, from the internal components of our electrodes that provide complete cochlear coverage to our external state-of-the-art audio processors. We are well suited to partner with Meludia and are proud to offer this service for our recipients,” said John Sparacio, President and CEO, MED-EL USA.

The 12-month subscription starts when the recipient or caretaker chooses and can be activated at any time through the recipient’s myMED-EL portal.

About MED-EL

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 2,800 employees from around 80 nations and 30 locations worldwide.

The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 137 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com

About Meludia

Meludia is a French developer of cognitive training applications based on music. Founded in 2012, Meludia won a gold medal and the grand prize at the 2014 Lépine International Competition for its groundbreaking approach to musical education, which has since been endorsed by teachers, professional musicians, and major institutions such as the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

The “Meludia Method,” developed by the composer Vincent Chaintrier, is based on 25 years of research and draws from the latest advances in cognitive science, including implicit and reinforcement learning. Meludia is made unique by its innovative method which has been transformed into a fun online tool that helps users enhance their understanding and appreciation of the musical language one step at a time, all the while increasing their level of dedication, motivation, and pleasure with regard to music. www.meludia.com

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca Novak Tibbitt
media.us@medel.com

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Rebecca Novak Tibbitt, MPH
RNT Communications, LLC
Rebecca@RNTCommunications.com

Filed Under: Events, History

MED-EL USA Invites Young Innovators to Shape the Future of Hearing Technology in the 2025 IDEASforEARS Contest

November 15, 2024 By Leave a Comment

November 14, 2024 – (DURHAM, NC) – MED-EL, a pioneer in hearing implant technology, today launched the 2025 IDEASforEARS competition in celebration of World Inventors Day. This global initiative invites young minds to step into the role of inventor, channeling their creativity to design groundbreaking solutions that could transform the lives of people with hearing loss.

Open to children aged 6 to 12 years, this year’s contest encourages entrants to dream without limits and contribute to a future where hearing challenges are met with innovative solutions. One grand prize winner will be awarded a trip to MED-EL’s international headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria, to meet with MED-EL inventors and other child inventors from around the world.

The IDEASforEARS contest serves as a platform where young inventors can unleash their imaginations. Whether through drawings, models, videos, or other creative mediums, children are encouraged to envision the next big advancement in hearing technology. This is not just about competition – it is about fostering a spirit of innovation and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those with hearing loss.

“The IDEASforEARS contest is more than just a competition. It is an opportunity for young minds to contribute to a future where hearing loss is met with hope, innovation, and ingenuity. Through IDEASforEARS young inventors can explore their creativity and contribute ideas that could shape the future of hearing technology. At MED-EL, we are committed to fostering the next generation of innovators, and this contest allows us to discover fresh perspectives that could influence our product development and enhance the lives of those with hearing loss,” said Jennifer Robinson, Corporate Director of Product Management Hearing Solutions at MED-EL.

Since the first contest in 2017, IDEASforEARS has captivated more than 1,200 young people from more than 40 countries, proving that the desire to create and help others knows no borders. The contest not only celebrates the inventive spirit of children but also raises awareness about hearing loss, a condition that affects millions globally. By participating, children gain insight into the importance of hearing health and the potential for technology to change lives.

MED-EL invites parents, guardians, and teachers to encourage children to participate in this life-changing contest. More information and submission details can be found at IDEASforEARS.medel.com. Submissions close on January 17, 2025, at midnight (CET).

About MED-EL

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 2,800 employees from around 80 nations and 30 locations worldwide.

The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 137 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca Novak Tibbitt
media.us@medel.com

Filed Under: Events, History
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