For Immediate Release:

EAR COMMUNITY NAMED “2022 TOP-RATED NONPROFIT” by GreatNonprofits

Award based on Community Recommendations

Broomfield, Colorado  December 20, 2022 –The Ear Community announced today it has been named a “2022 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading website for community recommendations of charities and nonprofits.

Since 2010, Ear Community has paved the way for children and adults who are born with Microtia and Aural Atresia all over the world. Ear Community has shined a light on this rare cause through advocacy efforts, raising awareness and promoting education, which has resulted in helping hundreds of thousands of caregivers, families and medical professionals better understand this congenital anomaly. Ear Community created a community that was much needed along with creating a sense of belongingness and acceptance. To date, the Ear Community has hosted over 100 FREE events bringing families together in the same situation, donated over 150 bone anchored hearing devices, awarded 20 college scholarships, championed genetics research, introduced Federal legislation for hearing device insurance coverage and established National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day – honoring the Microtia and Atresia community every November 9^th.

“We are honored to be named a 2022 Top-Rated Nonprofit,” says, Melissa Tumblin, Founder and Executive Director, of Ear Community. We are proud of our accomplishments this year, including our collaborative work on genetics research that led to a breakthrough discovery in identifying a new genetic cause for Microtia and Atresia and Craniofacial Microsomia.”

The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is based on the rating and number of reviews that Ear Community received from volunteers, donors and aid recipients. “When our daughter was born with microtia, we had never heard of the condition and were completely overwhelmed with how to navigate getting her the best care. Ear Community provides thorough, accurate information in a warm and supportive community and Melissa made herself available to provide personal support, recommendations and reassurance. Five months later, we feel confident in our ability to advocate for our daughter and her ability to thrive.” – community member/donor. To learn more about Ear Community, please visit:  https://earcommunity.org/

“The Ear Community is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community,” said Shari Tishman, Managing Director of GreatNonprofits, “Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with the Ear Community.”

GreatNonprofits is the largest donation website for nonprofits and where people share stories about their personal experiences on more than 1.8 million charities and nonprofits. The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities – as donors, volunteers and recipients of aid.

The complete list of 2022 Top Rated Nonprofits can be found at: https://greatnonprofits.org/awards/browse/Campaign:61/Issue:All

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About Ear Community, Inc.
Promote educational and public awareness about Microtia and Atresia and hearing loss, in an unbiased manner, while promoting advocacy and connecting individuals in the same situation.

About GreatNonprofits
GreatNonprofits is the leading platform for donors to find stories and ratings of nonprofits. By applying the power of crowdsourcing to the world of nonprofits provides over 500,000 stories and reviews for more than 1.8M nonprofits influencing 30 million donation decisions a year. GreatNonprofits has received coverage in the Economist, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Chronicle of Philanthropy, and has been personally endorsed by philanthropist Bill Gates. The organization is led by a team of nonprofit, business, product, and technology professionals. Visit https://greatnonprofits.org for more information.

Media Contacts
Melissa Tumblin
Executive Director, Ear Community
Melissa@EarCommunity.org

Karen Dayan
Chief Marketing Officer, Great Nonprofits
karen@greatnonprofits.org

On Wednesday, November 9^th, 2022, National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day was embraced and celebrated throughout the world by promoting awareness and education about the rare congenital anomaly called Microtia and Aural Atresia. Microtia occurs when the outer ears do not fully develop during the first trimester of pregnancy. Aural Atresia occurs when the ear canals do not fully develop or are absent, causing hearing loss. Microtia occurs in 1 out of every 6,000 children born in the United States (approximately 660 babies born each year). This awareness day was established by the Ear Community Organization, taking place every November 9^th, honoring the beautiful children and adults in our community with this condition. Below is our story from this year’s National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day spotlighting some of the many ways awareness and education was spread on November 9th:

National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day gives our community the opportunity to shine a light on our rare cause. On this day, medical professionals specializing in Microtia and Aural Atresia repair host clinics educating families who have loved ones with Microtia and Atresia. Medical device companies educate on how individuals with Microtia and Atresia can benefit from specialized hearing devices they offer called Bone Anchored Hearing Devices or Bone Conduction Hearing Systems. Medical device companies offering surgical implants that can help create an outer ear or correct facial asymmetry during reconstruction also enjoy embracing our community on this day. Posts on social media channels include educating about all the options for Microtia and Atresia. This day also provides a platform for families and teachers to educate and promote awareness about Microtia and Atresia in schools. Advocates often wearing supportive t-shirts, awareness wristbands and often bringing in ear shaped cookies or cupcakes with our awareness ribbon on them talk about our cause. Parents, teachers of the Deaf and hard of hearing, speech therapists and early intervention providers speak with children about differences, being unique, acceptance, and being kind in the school classroom. Some children and parents give presentations on Microtia and the type of hearing device that can help someone hear when they are born with Aural Atresia. Some discuss how everyone is different in their own way such as wearing eyeglasses, they share about their

Educating in the school classroom.

journey and being a role model. Special events are often organized on this day by schools for the Deaf and Hard of hearing and by Teachers of the Deaf/HH as well throughout the states. Many of Ear Community’s Sponsors enjoy educating on hearing device technology and how children and adults with Microtia and Atresia can benefit from these specialized hearing devices. This year, Oticon Medical Sponsored t-shirts for children and staff at the Summit Speech School in New Jersey. These families enjoyed coming together on November 9^th with their beautiful children, making it an extra special day! Many community members find our day as a special day they look forward to celebrating each year, including some who’s birthdays fall on our awareness day!

Many countries embrace National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day as this was not only a much-needed day to raise awareness, but individuals born with Microtia and Atresia are often an under-served community. Awareness and advocacy were needed for this cause. It is amazing to see the world embrace our special day, every year, promoting education and awareness. Some of the many countries embracing National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Columbia, India, Russia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Poland, Russia, Japan, China, Mongolia, the UK, Malaysia, Australia, Denmark, Brazil, France, and South Africa just to name a few.

Harvard researchers with Seidman Labs (Barbara McDonough and Angela Tai)

One of Ear Community’s goals as a nonprofit was to work on research, with the hope of finding the answers to the questions surrounding why Microtia and Atresia happen. Most families have often never heard of Microtia or Atresia when a child is born into their family with this rare congenital anomaly. However, other families have multiple family members affected with Microtia and Atresia throughout generations. While there is little understanding of what causes Microtia and Atresia, there are new genetic findings that show damaging genetic variants cause Microtia and Atresia and Craniofacial Microsomia. Ear Community’s founder, Melissa Tumblin, didn’t want another mother to ever blame herself thinking she must have done something during her pregnancy to cause her child’s ears to be missing or underdeveloped. After a five-year grant research project collaborating with Harvard Medical School (Seidman Labs), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, MIT – the Broad Institute, the NIH, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Foundation, Seattle Children’s Hospital and many contributing organizations, our community now has new information that can help us understand why Microtia and Atresia may happen. This year alone, our primary investigator, Dr. Dan Quiat of Harvard Medical School, published two papers on these new findings helping us understand what damaging mutations cause Microtia and Atresia and Craniofacial Microsomia. We are grateful to the researchers who have worked incredibly hard to help our community find the answers we are looking for! This genetics information can be found on Ear Community’s website here.

Dr. Ashesh Bhumkar in India of Bhumkar ENT & Microtia-Atresia Hospital .

Many medical professionals embrace November 9^th by educating online about the options for Microtia and Atresia. Some wear t-shirts and wristbands while hosting clinics to help support and educate these families. Some like Dr. Ashesh Bhumkar of India (Bhumkar ENT & Microtia-Atresia Hospital), donate their time and service to reconstruct an ear for one lucky child on November 9^th! Some medical facilities that embrace National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day include Stanford Children’s Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital, Harvard Mass Eye and

Dr. Angelo Leto-Barone with Nemours Children’s Health.

Ear, NY Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai, Nemours Children’s Health, Children’s Minnesota, University Hospitals, Johns Hopkins, including many audiology and ENT academies and organizations as well as many hearing loss organizations just to name a few. This year, Ear Community hosted a global presentation on “Let’s Talk About Microtia and Atresia” educating on the options for our rare cause as well as why the Ear Community Organization was founded. Families and health care professionals including social workers, teachers of the D/HH, and therapists joined this presentation from all over the world from Ghana, Ethiopia, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Argentina, Ecuador, and many from the United States. Moments like this are what Ear Community was founded on, helping bring Microtia and Atresia families together from all over the world. This presentation can be viewed here.

Many news articles were published on National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day sharing about our community and organization’s story. This year, Ear Community made International Business Times as well as being nominated and recognized as “Nonprofit of the Day” by Philanthropi! We would like to thank

International Business Times on National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day.

everyone who has supported the Ear Community Organization and our mission since 2010! It is the intention of Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day to help promote public awareness & the hope that future generations of families will leave the hospital equipped with more answers than questions & their dreams for the child intact. It is also the hope that if more people learn about Microtia & Atresia, that they will be kinder & more accepting. Through this National Day of Awareness, individuals with Microtia & Atresia & their families can find out about organizations & resources for information & support. We are grateful for the beautiful community we have created and brought together. Every child and adult who has Microtia and Atresia is truly unique and amazing. We hope that you never let your sweet little ears or hearing loss ever define you because you can be something truly amazing! We also hope no one with Microtia and Atresia ever feels alone because you have all of us!
Thank you,
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

We hope you enjoy some of the amazing memories from our community on National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day!

November 9th, 2022

November 9^th is National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day, dedicated to spreading hope & knowledge concerning a rare congenital anomaly known as Microtia & Aural Atresia – when the ears do not fully develop during the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Microtia derives its name from the Latin terms for little ears or missing ears. Aural Atresia results when the ear canals are underdeveloped or absent, causing hearing loss. 1 out of every 6,000 children is born with Microtia & Aural Atresia in the United States (approximately 600 babies are born each year in the US).

It is the intention of Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day to help promote public awareness & the hope that future generations of families will leave the hospital equipped with more answers than questions & their dreams for the child intact. It is also the hope that if more people learn about Microtia & Atresia, that they will be kinder & more accepting. Through this national day of awareness, individuals with Microtia & Atresia & their families can find out about organizations & resources for information & support.

Microtia and Atresia can affect one or both ears.
Microtia can occur with or without Atresia and visa versa.
Microtia affects the right ear more often.
Microtia is more common in males.

Many individuals affected by Microtia and Atresia can also have Craniofacial Microsomia – when the jaw line is asymmetrical on one side causing oral complications, including causing the skull, eye and mouth on one side to be smaller or underdeveloped when compared to the non affected side. Craniofacial Microsomia is also known as Hemifacial Microsomia.

African Americans are the least affected by Microtia and Atresia, while Ecuadorians, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and Native American ethnicities are affected more often.

There are (4) grades of Microtia and Aural Atresia:
While there is little understanding of what causes Microtia and Atresia, there are new genetic findings that show damaging genetic variants may cause Microtia and Atresia and Craniofacial Microsomia. The Ear Community Organization didn’t want another mother to ever blame herself, thinking she did something to cause her child’s ears to be missing during her pregnancy. These new findings can be found on Ear Community’s website, here, including additional research information.

Children and adults who have Microtia and Aural Atresia are beautiful and perfect in every way and should never let their hearing loss or underdeveloped ear(s) define them. However, if an individual with Microtia and Atresia believes that outer ear reconstruction or hearing restoration surgery would give them the happiness they long for, it is important to be informed of the following options:
1. The Do Nothing Option.

2. Reconstructive surgery:
a. Rib Graft surgery – an ear framework that is stitched from sections of rib (gold standard surgical technique).
b. Porous polyethylene surgery – known as a preshaped ear framework referred to as Medpor, SuPor or OMNIPORE.
c. Craniofacial surgery that can help make the jaw and face symmetrical. Jaw distraction is also an option. Polyethylene implants for the chin and cheeks are an option as well as botox. A craniofacial team/plastic surgeon can review these options with you.

3. Prosthetic ear (which looks incredibly realistic).

4. Atresiaplasty/Canalplasty – when a hole is drilled into the skull, creating an area for an ear canal that is lined with a skin graft as well as creating the possibility of the middle ear bones being tweaked offering an improved hearing range.

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.

Bone Anchored Hearing Device options:
The Cochlear Baha and Osia System
The Oticon Medical Ponto System
The MED-EL ADHEAR and BONEBRIDGE System

The Ear Community Organization is the first parent driven nonprofit organization to help Microtia and Atresia families, specifically, as well as having paved the way for this community since 2010.

How has Ear Community given back to the Microtia and Atresia community?
– offered the first comprehensive online resource for information on Microtia and Atresia in one place in multiple languages.
– hosted over 100 FREE events throughout the United States as well as in Denmark, South Africa, Spain, the UK, Australia and multiples in Canada bringing together thousands of families and medical professionals.
– donated over 150 bone anchored hearing devices to those in need or who have been denied by their insurers.
– awarded 20 college scholarships.
– established “National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day”. Our awareness day has a Resolution in place that would designate November 9th on the government calendar.
– championed genetic research on Microtia and Atresia with published results.
– has Federal legislation introduced, known as Ally’s Act, that would ensure private insurance coverage for Bone Anchored Hearing Devices and Cochlear Implants for children and adults from birth to age 64.
– 3D Printed/Regenerated ears – collaborating with clinical trials.

On National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day, many medical professionals host clinics and educate online about Microtia and Atresia through social media. Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as well as families educate and advocate in the school classroom, sharing about hearing loss and Microtia as well as discussing differences, acceptance and being kind. Many choose to read from related books on Microtia and hearing loss while others bring in treats such as cupcakes and cookies in the shape of ears or with the blue Microtia and Atresia awareness ribbon on them. Many classrooms get creative with coloring pages of Microtia ribbons that are printed for anyone to color in!

Medical professionals to consider reaching out for information regarding help with Microtia and Aural Atresia:
Neonatologist, pediatrician, ENT, audiologist, craniofacial team (plastic surgeon and oral surgeon), pediatric dentist, opthalmologist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, anaplastologist, geneticist, psychologist/counselor or developmental specialist.
* some children have additional syndromes associated with Microtia and Atresia who can benefit from additional specialists listed above.

Did you know that animals can also be born with Microtia and Atresia?

Ear Community is proud to shine a light on our rare cause every November 9th. Most importantly, we hope no one with Microtia and Atresia ever feels alone. We think all ears are beautiful – biological, reconstructed or prosthetic. Never let your hearing loss or missing ears define you because it is what makes you unique!

Tags:  #nationalmicrotiaandatresiaawarenessday
#microtiaawarenessday  #atresiaawarenessday
#microtiakidsrock  #EarCommunity  #luckyears

Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

On Thursday, September 22nd, 2022, Ear Community was invited on the Denver Mile High Living Show by Host Gina Belich to talk about why the Ear Community Organization was founded. Ear Community Founder and Executive Director, Melissa Tumblin, shared why she founded Ear Community after her youngest daughter, Ally, was born without her right ear and no ear canal, and that the family just could not find the answers they were looking for. Ear Community has been around for nearly 13 years now after starting out as the Microtia and Atresia Support Group on Facebook in May of 2020.

Gina and Melissa talked about why Ear Community was much needed resource and how the organization has helped so many all around the world. Melissa shared that Ear Community has hosted over 100 events, donated over 150 bone anchored hearing devices, awarded 20 college scholarships and paved the way for Microtia and Atresia families. The organization has also championed genetic research on Microtia and Atresia as well as having legislation introduced, known as H.R. 477, which was named after Melissa’s daughter, Ally. Melissa explained that Congressman Joe Neguse is our bill’s original sponsor and how grateful she and community members are for his leadership in helping us with passage of this bill. Ally’s Act would ensure that private insurers cover bone anchored hearing devices and cochlear implants for children from birth to age 64. Melissa also shared about the organization and community’s national awareness day that her family established, known as National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day, taking place on November 9th. National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day is a day for embracing differences and being kind , also so children and adults with Microtia and Atresia never feel alone. Teachers of the Deaf, medical professionals and parents all come together and share about hearing loss and differences on this day. Melissa says that many medical professionals host Microtia and Atresia clinics on this day to help educate patients and also the public about this rare congenital anomaly while parents and Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing talk about hearing loss and acceptance of differences.

A special thank you to Montrece Hall, Associate Producer for Mile High Living at the Denver Channel 7 NEWS, for finding Ear Community as one of the many 501c3 nonprofits listed during Colorado Gives Day through the Community First Foundation. Ear Community is grateful for being invited on the show as one of the many Colorado nonprofit organizations. Mile High Living appreciates communities and learning about the members within the communities in our state. By having nonprofits on the show help promote awareness and share about the good that Colorado has with nonprofit advocacy.

Below is the link to the Mile High Living segment with Host Gina Belich and Ear Community Founder, Melissa Tumblin.

https://news.yahoo.com/microtia-artesia-support-ear-community-232211301.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAG1P8aZ5fzcpnzy978BldNM0D_1eXibbX44hq_JVbL15FsG18CHSssna12H1A9aClfBP8MA7xJsYxPMfQh9Qsbub5-0VGFDWh6rhnBo9en_dBFWzkvsEXsE99wJ0KkR2Lpzp2r5wgRYYUyV1IBOTaDvDg6O_cX41HvMh05CmmTez

Here are some additional images from the Mile High Living Show set:

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: