Archives for August 2015

Damian and Michael Mosley, both born with Microtia and Atresia, receiving their newly donated Cochlear Americas Baha 5 processors (August 13, 2015)

Meet Michael and Damian Mosley of Mableton, Georgia. Michael is nine years old and was born with bilateral Microtia and Atresia and his brother, Damian, is almost 2 years old, born with Microtia and Atresia of his left ear. Michael and Damian’s father, Nathanael, also has Microtia and Atresia. Michael and Damian’s parents, Sarah and Nathanael, wanted to make sure their boys could hear, but they have struggled to obtain hearing devices for their sons through their insurance provider. Sarah says “their insurance provider has turned down all of their appeals for coverage of a bone anchored hearing device.” Sarah knows that bone anchored hearing devices could help her sons hear better as she states “when Michael puts his loaner BAHA (on a soft band) on his younger brother, Damian, his face lights up with delight.” Thankfully, the Mosley family found the Ear Community Organization and applied for three bone anchored hearing devices for their sons.

On August 13^th, 2015, both Michael and Damian were fitted with their newly donated Cochlear Americas Baha 5 hearing devices. While the time and services for the boy’s fitting and programming were unable to be donated, additional funds were made possible, in memory of Curt Gorman (Past President of Oticon Medical US), that helped fund these extra costs so Michael and Damian could have their Baha 5 processors fitted and programmed appropriately. Curt Gorman had a passion for helping children hear better as he was a pioneer in the hearing device industry, especially for bone anchored hearing devices. Curt new many colleagues in the hearing device industry who work for Cochlear Americas and when he was President of Entific Medical Systems (US). Ear Community wishes to thank the Gorman family ( and those who made contributions in Curt’s name) for helping make these funds possible so Michael and Damian could receive their hearing devices. Thank you to Dr. Erica Claxton of Children’s Hospital of Alabama for fitting and programming the boy’s hearing devices.

Ear Community is a nonprofit organization that helps the Microtia and Atresia community worldwide. Ear Community is so very thankful for the help that it receives and when other organizations come together to help Ear Community with its mission, to help children and adults born with Microtia and Atresia. “Thank you to Cochlear Americas for helping Michael and Damian live a better quality of life by donating their new Baha 5 processors so they can hear better in school,” says Melissa Tumblin.

Ear Community would especially like to thank Kolleen Davis and Joanne Kernie of Cochlear Americas for donating the three Baha 5’s to our foundation so Ear Community could help Michael and Damian hear better. “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 celebrates 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.”

Thank you and congratulations on hearing all of the sounds of life so much better Michael and Damian!
Melissa Tumblin (Founder) and Board of Directors
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

Adam Kozuszek, college scholarship recipient through Ear Community, August 2015.

Meet Adam Kozuszek, a freshman entering his first year of college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Adam comes from a long history of farmers and he enjoys being a big brother to his two younger sisters, Sarah and Clara.  Adam was born with Microtia and Atresia of his right ear, but his hearing loss and Microtia have never gotten in the way of his goals in life.  While Adam has never had reconstructive surgery and does not wear a hearing device, he has always been involved in top roles in school, has always been a hard worker, and is a confident individual.  While attending Waltonville High School, Adam was very involved with sports and an active member to many organizations that he belonged to.  Adam was the President of his high school’s FFA chapter and also a section FFA officer as well.  He was  the Vice President of FBLA and a member of student council, Beta, and FCA and as the varsity captain for his school’s Scholar Bowl team, he was named MVP last year.  In addition, Adam plays golf and was the team manger for his school’s basketball team.  He was also a past recipient of the Woodmen of the World American History Award and was an Illinois State Scholar.

Adam has a lot on his plate as he helps work on his family’s farm and also on two other farms in his neighborhood.  Adam loves farming and it has been a big part of his life ever since he was born.  Some of his earliest memories include him sitting on his grandpa’s lap and steering the tractor through the field.  By the time Adam was eleven years old, he was already doing field work by himself.  As Adam enters college, he plans on earning a degree in Agricultural Engineering.

Adam applied to Ear Community for our college scholarship as he is paying his own way through college.   “Whenever funds are available, Ear Community is always proud to help individuals who have Microtia and Atresia with their education.” says Melissa Tumblin.  “There is no doubt in my mind that Adam will excel at his education and in anything he puts his mind to in life…especially coming out of high school with a 3.995 GPA as the class Salutatorian and having a 30 on his ACT” says Melissa.  Adam hopes to work for a farming machinery equipment manufacturer like John Deere or Case IH someday.

Ear Community is proud to have been able to help Adam further his education by awarding him a college scholarship in the amount of $750.00 (USD).  Adam was awarded the Ear Community scholarship just in time for his first semester of college this fall.  All of us at Ear Community wish you the best of luck with your education and your dreams Adam.

Thank you,
Melissa Tumblin
Founder of Ear Community
and
Ear Community Board of Directors

Curt Gorman, Sr. Vice President and past President of Oticon Medical. He will be missed by many in the hearing device industry and around the world. Rest in peace Curt. Our thoughts and prayers to your family.

Every now and then you meet someone in your life who just understands what it is that you are trying to do and they embrace you. A special someone who wants to help you because they see a certain passion in you. A certain someone who chooses to take you under their wing providing guidance and encouragement and expressing their excitement for what it is that you are doing. For me, that someone was Curt Gorman, Sr. Vice President for Oticon Medical US (BAHS division) (and past President of Oticon Medical US) because he believed in me and in helping children born with Microtia and Atresia.

Curt had a soft spot in his heart for wanting to help individuals with hearing loss, especially children. When Curt found out about the support group I had founded that helps children and adults who were born with missing ears, facial challenges, and hearing loss (Microtia and Atresia)….he loved this idea as helping kids was something he felt most passionately about. I remember when Curt took the time to spend half a day with me wanting to know more about my hopes and aspirations. He just listened to what I had to say….he listened and then told me how he and Oticon Medical would like to help. Curt was especially excited when I told him that I had decided to take my support group to the next level as a nonprofit organization. The smile on his face was something that I will never forget because I could feel his excitement and it was as if he knew that something special was about to happen. This is the kind of person Curt was. He had the ability to help others find what they were looking for and help them get there. He supported me in my efforts for my organization and I will forever be grateful to him for believing in me and in the Ear Community Organization.

Curt looked forward to being apart of Ear Community picnics and seeing all of the children and adults and their families come together, sharing their experiences. I know it meant a lot to him to see the tears of joy from the children and adults hearing for the very first time through the hearing devices at our picnics. It is my understanding that Curt was planning to attend Ear Community’s 5^th Annual Colorado picnic (7/25/2015) up until the last moment, but his fight with cancer was becoming more difficult. He loved Ear Community. I truly wished I could have seen him one more time.

While I only had the privilege of knowing Curt over the past five years, I know he was an amazing person. Thank you for touching my life and the lives of so many others. Thank you for also believing in Ear Community and for wanting to help me help others hear better. You will be missed by so many in the hearing device industry all over the world.  You were an amazing person Curt. Thank you for making a difference in so many people’s lives and for being so involved in the community.

Tine Schou, Vice President of Marketing for Oticon Medical Denmark, says that “for many in the hearing device industry, Curt was the father of bone anchored treatment in the US as he was involved in Entific, long before Oticon Medical as well. His dedication to patients and professionals will never be forgotten. He was a very brave man and he worked for Oticon Medical until last week due to his dedication for treatment.”

For Alan Raffauf, Vice President of Marketing Oticon Medical US, and Oticon Medical staff….I know Curt was an amazing mentor, friend and colleague to so many of you in the office. I can only hope that all of you can find comfort in his passing and heal quickly knowing that he will always be with you and how his life impacted all of yours.
– Melissa Tumblin (Ear Community Founder)

For DeAnn, (Curt’s wife), and two sons (Jerrit and Alex), I know you made Curt so very happy because every time I met him, he was always happy.  I enjoyed discussions with him about Jerrit and Alex and wrestling, and college, etc…  I know he was loved by you and enjoyed his life with you. Please thank your mom, DeAnn, for making the cute satchel bags for my daughters with the butterflies on them.  Curt was so excited to give them to my daughters with all of the goodies in them.  My girls still use them!  Curt had an amazing smile too.  Curt loved how Ear Community was born out of my passion for wanting to help other children like my youngest daughter, Ally.  Thank you Curt for loving my Ally girl.  It is because of Curt’s efforts in product development that he was able to help so many individuals around the world hear better.  I am thankful for him!  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and friends at this time.

We are thinking of you.
– The Tumblin Family

Rest in peace my friend. Thank you for being the person you were Curt!
Melissa Tumblin and Family
Ear Community Founders
The Microtia and Atresia Support Group

Here are some favorite memories of how Curt was a part of the Tumblin family’s life and how he touched Ear Community:

Oticon Medical Mourns Passing of Curt Gorman, Senior Vice President, BAHS Division

Curt Gorman, Sr. Vice President of Oticon Medical. He will be missed by many in the hearing device industry and around the world. Rest in peace Curt. Our thoughts and prayers to your family.

SOMERSET, NJ   August 6 — Oticon Medical sadly announces the passing of Curt Gorman, Senior Vice President, BAHS Division, following a courageous battle with cancer.  A valued member of the management team since Oticon Medical’s inception in 2009, Gorman was passionate about building a company that made implantable hearing solutions an option for more people than ever before. His unwavering focus on delivering innovative solutions and quality support and service earned him the deep respect and loyalty of Oticon Medical customers and fellow associates alike.

Gorman was a pioneer in the hearing implant industry and an early champion of the benefits of bone anchored hearing technology who helped to increase awareness and adoption by hearing healthcare professionals across the US.

“All of us at Oticon Medical who had the pleasure of working with Curt and learning from him are saddened by his passing,” said Jes Olsen, President of Oticon Medical A/S.  “He will be remembered as a warm and caring friend and a dedicated mentor who gave freely of his time, advice and expertise. We honor his memory by carrying forward his spirit of service and passion for people with hearing loss and the dedicated professionals who serve them.”

Gorman is survived by his wife, DeAnn, and sons, Jerrit and Alex.

Jared Schnackenberg, President, Oticon Medical US, will assume responsibilities for the BAHS Division for the immediate future.

Oticon Medical logo

Oticon Medical is pleased to announce the launch of the FIRST SOFT HEALING CAP on the market.

The healing cap is intended to be attached to the abutment during the soft tissue healing period after a bone anchored implant surgery to hold the dressing in place and act as protective mechanical barrier.

Consequently, the new soft healing cap is made of a specially selected thermoplastic elastomer material, designed to provide a dampening effect and stay in place if subject to impact. This flexibility allows the healing cap to absorb side forces when exposed to impact, rather than transferring that impact to the abutment which could be the case of a hard healing cap.

omsofthealingcap

Furthermore, the open design of the soft healing cap enables the sound processor to be connected whenever it suits the patient. This ensures the patient always has access to sound.

NOTE: The soft healing cap is designed for all Ponto surgeries but only fits the Ponto abutment family!!!

For more information, please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-888-277-8014. We look forward to hearing from you!! For more information on hearing implant solutions, Oticon Medical, the Ponto System and the Ponto Plus family of sound processors, visitwww.oticonmedical.com or the Oticon Medical Expo Page on AudiologyOnline.