October 2024 | Ear Community

Alyssa Tumblin of the Ear Community Organization, recipient of the 2023 Osseo Super HearO Award in Denver, CO (September 6-9).

September 6th-9th, 2023

What an exciting week being part of the 8th International Congress on Bone Conduction Hearing and Related Technologies that was hosted here in Denver, Colorado! Melissa Tumblin, the Founder of The Ear Community Organization, was one of the many educational presenters during the Congress on bone conduction hearing device technology. From ENTs and audiologists presenting on the latest research for managing hearing loss and hearing restoration to the leading hearing device technology companies representing the latest bone conduction hearing devices on the market (Bone Conduction Hearing, Cochlear, MED-EL and Oticon Medical), attendees traveled from all parts of the globe to be at this year’s international congress! As a guest speaker, Melissa shared about the tireless work the Ear Community Organization does for the microtia and aural atresia community, including genetic research, advocacy efforts, federal legislation the organization has in place known as Ally’s Act, H.R. 2439/S. 1135 and the need for bone conduction hearing devices and how grateful our community is for this technology that helps give our community members their lives back!

Alyssa Tumblin of Ear Community receiving the Super HEARo Award from Dr. Stephen Cass at the 2023 International Osseo Meeting in Denver, CO.

Melissa’s daughter, Alyssa “Ally”, who is the inspiration behind the organization, was presented with the Osseo Super HEARo Award by her ENT, Dr. Stephen Cass of the University of Colorado Health School of Medicine. Dr. Stephen Cass is a renowned Otolaryngologist/Neurotologist in the industry and had the honor of hosting the 8th International Osseo Congress in Denver. Dr. Cass did an amazing job organizing this international event! Congress events like Osseo not only give the global industry the opportunity to share about the latest in technology, but is a great reminder of why bone conduction technology is needed and the difference these hearing devices make for everyone! For many, bone conduction hearing devices are the only type of hearing devices children and adults can benefit from due to the specific hearing loss they may have. In Ally’s case and the reason why Congressman Joe Neguse introduced a Federal piece of legislation named after Ally, is that for many private insurers often deny coverage for these hearing devices when they are medically necessary, absolutely needed and recommended by audiologists and ENTs.

Dr. Stephen Cass awarding Alyssa Tumblin the Super HEARo Award at the International Osseo Meeting in Denver, CO.

Bone conduction hearing devices give individuals the opportunity to continue living their lives in a vocal world by allowing them to thrive in their communities, go to school, have jobs and live the lives they dream. Without specific hearing technology like bone conduction, the children and adults in need of hearing cannot benefit from traditional hearing aids. A special thank you to Dr. Cass for recognizing Ally for all of her advocacy and work in the community when it comes to microtia and aural atresia! Thank you to Oticon Medical for also publishing a full sized add on Ally’s Act, H.R. 2439/S. 1135 in the Osseo directory and about the Oticon Medical Ponto bone conduction hearing device!

While at Osseo, we got to see a lot of industry friends and some amazing legends behind bone conduction technology in the hearing device field too! What an incredible honor it was to meet Professor Bo Håkansson – The Father of Bone Conduction and Professor Anders Tjellström who was The Ear-Nose-Throat surgeon who developed the surgical technique for bone conduction! We caught up with Geoff Ball from MED-EL again who is the inventor of the VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE. Geoff has attended some of our Ear Community picnics here in the past and it is always great to see him! Also pictured is Ally’s amazing ENT, Dr. Stephen Cass! Thank you for honoring Ally with this Congress’ patient award at home here in Colorado! I must say that I like to include Ally along with all of the above list of legends as she is a little legend herself in the microtia and atresia community and also for the bone anchored hearing device industry! Thank you again to Dr. Cass for presenting Ally with the Super HEARo award during this International scientific meeting and for giving Ear Community the opportunity to be spotlighted for the work our organization does and the Advocacy efforts we work on alongside congress.

The Oticon Medical Global Team at the 2023 International Osseo Meeting in Denver, CO.

Melissa Tumblin and Dr. Carol Liu at the 2023 International Osseo Meeting in Denver, CO.

It was great seeing many of our industry partners and friends while at Osseo! We visited with Cochlear Americas at their booth learning more about Baha 6 and the Osia System! It was great catching up with Dig Howitt (President Australia HQ), Patti Trautwein (US Vice President), Ryan Lopez and Melissa Thompson (Product Managers), Melanie Chang (Marketing Manager) and Jim Byrd (Director of Reimbursement)! We caught up with the Oticon Medical team in their booth too sharing about the Ponto System and the excitement about the anticipated Sentio System at the time (now launched 2024). A special thank you to Justin Pfeiffer (Director of US Sales) for always wearing our cause’s blue microtia and atresia awareness wristband! Justin has worn our wristband for years, supporting our community and cause for microtia and atresia! We caught up with many on the US, Danish, French and Swedish Teams including Krista Bramlet, GM of Oticon Medical US (at the time in 2023), along with Rene Govaerts – GM of Oticon Medical Europe, Sege Kriek – Product Specialist and Clinical Researcher with Oticon Medical, Steffen Vater – Director of Sales for Oticon Medical Europe and Brendalys Trinidad – Marketing at Oticon Medical US! It was great to see advocate, Angela Sabal, again too, whom I have known for the past 12 years! We spent some time in the MED-EL booth learning more about the BONEBRIDGE, SOUNDBRIDGE and ADHEAR bone conduction Systems! It was wonderful seeing John Sparacio again – President of MED-EL US and Geoff Ball – Inventor of the Vibrant SOUNDBRIDGE hearing device. Geoff is also a recipient of the SOUNDBRIDGE himself! It was wonderful visiting with Corey Brackmann – Audiology Sales Representative,

Alyssa Tumblin with Dr. Luis Serrano at the 2023 International Osseo Meeting in Denver, CO.

Kevin Vukovich – US Regional Director and Jake, one of MED-EL’s biomechanical engineers.I also learned about some new technology including finally getting the chance to meet some local and international friends in person in the medical field including Dr. Luis Serrano from Ecuador and Dr. Carol Liu from Texas Children’s Hospital, the audiology research team at the University of Miami and more! Dr. Serrano is a friend of mine who has embraced the research for microtia and atresia in Ecuador through is practice, AudioCentro, in Ecuador. Dr. Serrano and I have also worked on genetics research together for microtia. It was so wonderful to see Dr. Liu again from Texas! She has advocated for Ally’s Act, embraced National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day and runs an incredible microtia and atresia clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston! I was also able to finally meet some of the audiology research team from the University of Miami including Chief of Audiology – Dr. Hillary Snapp along with audiology professors Dr. Samantha Espinal and Dr. Chrisanda Sanchez, who cheered from the ballroom during Ear Community’s presentation when our support group (the Microtia and Atresia Support Group on FB) was mentioned!

It was a wonderful International Congress for everyone who attended!
Here are some great memories from the 8th International Congress on Bone Conduction Hearing and Related Technologies that was hosted here in Denver, Colorado.

: Ally’s Act and Ponto by Oticon Medical in the Osseo Directory.

: Melissa Tumblin with Professor Bo Håkansson – The Father of Bone Conduction

: Melissa Tumblin with Professor Anders Tjellström who was The Ear-Nose-Throat surgeon who developed the surgical technique

: Dr. Stephen Cass with Melissa Tumblin

: Geoff Ball, inventor of the VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE, with Melissa Tumblin

: Dr. Hillary Snapp reading about Ally’s Act in the 2023 Osseo Meeting Directory.

: Dr. Luis Serrano of Ecuador with Melissa Tumblin

: Melissa Tumblin with Dr. Carol Liu

: Dig Howitt of Cochleear with Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community

: The MED-EL Team at Osseo 2023 in Denver, CO with Melissa Tumblin and President of

: Melissa Tumblin with Rene Govaerts of Oticon Medical

: Melissa Tumblin with Dr. Fred Telischi (Univ. of Miami)

: Serge Kriek of Oticon Medical with Alyssa Tumblin of Ear Community

: Alyssa Tumblin in the Oticon Medical booth at Osseo 2023.

: Brendalys Trinidad of Oticon Medical with Alyssa Tumblin of Ear Community

: Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community with Justin Pfeiffer of Oticon Medical

: Rene Govaerts of Oticon Medical with Ally and Melissa Tumblin

: Dr. Hillary Snapp (Univ. of Miamai) with Alyssa Tumblin

: Brendalys Trinidad of Oticon Medical with Alyssa Tumblin of Ear Community

: Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community with Jim Bryd of Cochlear Americas.

: Melissa and Ally Tumblin of Ear Community with Dr. Chrisanda Sanchez (Univ. of Miami)

: Oticon Medical booth at 2023 Osseo in Denver, CO

: Angela Sabel, Brendalys Trinidad and Melissa Tumblin

: Brendalys Trinidad, Angela Sabel and Melissa Tumblin

: Melissa Tumblin presenting at the 2023 Osseo International Bone Conduction and Related Technologies Scientific Meeting in Denver, CO.

: Dr. Chrisanda Sanchez presenting on microtia research with help from Ear Community

: Dr. Stephen Cass of the Univ. of Colorado Medical School presenting the Super HEARo Award to Alyssa Tumblin of Ear Community

: Krista Bramlet of Oticon Medical with Ally and Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community

: Melani Chang of Cochlear Americas with Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community

: Corey Brackmann with Ally Tumblin in the MED-EL booth.

: Ryan Lopez and Melissa Thompson of Cochlear Americas with Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community

: Patti Trautwein of Cochlear Americas with Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community

: Angela Sabel, Melissa Tumblin, Brendalys Trinidad and Corey Brackmann at 2023 Osseo in Denver, CO.

: The Cochlear Americas booth at the 2023 Osseo Meeting in Denver, CO.

: Jake in the MED-EL booth at Osseo 2023.

: The global Oticon Medical Team at Osseo 2023 in Denver, CO.

: Brendalys Trinidad with Melissa Tumblin in the Oticon Medical booth at Osseo in Denver, CO.

: Kevin Vukovich of MED-EL with Melissa Tumblin

: The Bone Conduction Hearing company

: Melissa Tumblin with Steffen Vater of Oticon Medical

: Melissa Tumblin with Serge Kriek of Oticon Medical

: The MED-EL booth at Osseo 2023 in Denver, CO

Melissa Tumblin
Ear Community

How one family is giving back to the microtia and atresia community through Ear Community and the arts!

Finding Nemo Jr. children's play in Georgia (Thomaston Upson Art Council) 8/2024

Finding Nemo Jr. children’s play in Georgia during August 9th, 10th and 11th, 2024 with the Thomaston Upson Arts Council

Lauren and Paxton Hoyal during the Finding Nemo Jr. children's play at the Thomaston Upson Art Council in August, 2024.

Lauren and Paxton Hoyal during the Finding Nemo Jr. children’s play at the Thomaston Upson Art Council in Thomaston, Georgia, August, 2024.

Meet Lauren Hoyal! Lauren is the Children’s Art Director with the Thomaston Upson Arts Council (TUAC) in Georgia. Lauren had a vision of educating the community about a rare condition her son, Paxton, was born with. Paxton was born without one ear (microtia) and has hearing loss due to a missing ear canal (aural atresia). Lauren and her family immediately thought of “Finding Nemo” as something everyone could embrace and have a connection with if they are missing an ear – like Nemo’s fin. Filled with excitement, Lauren began planning for a children’s play called “Finding Nemo Jr.!”

As a member of the Board, Lauren shared in a community press release that “TUAC started something new this year called “Shows with a Purpose”. She explained that “We wanted to not only teach our summer campers about the show but also teach them life skills such as compassion and giving back. Although we are small, we can still make a difference! This year we are thrilled to support The Ear Community which is near and dear to my heart! As a community we raised $1000! That brings me to tears! Thank you so much for supporting Microtia and Atresia and bringing awareness! It is so important to teach our children that people who are unique and different deserve love!”

Finding Nemo Jr. showed over three nights on August 9th, 10th and 11th, bringing together over 500 community members with a cast of over 85 children! Lauren wanted to make sure anyone attending with microtia and atresia would have free entry and be given the chance to share their journey living with microtia and atresia at the beginning of the play. She even made sure everyone wore blue awareness wristbands to support our cause! Lauren, her husband Perry, daughter Vada and Paxton, shared at the beginning of the play why it’s important to them to spread awareness and talk about differences, acceptance and kindness. They also shared why they support the Ear Community Organization and it’s mission after struggling to find the answers they were looking for from their doctors while searching for others in the same situation so they don’t feel so alone.

Finding Nemo, Jr. was a huge success in Thomaston, Georgia during the three days of this play’s performance! So many children and adults were involved in making each performance go off without a hitch and pouring their passion and joy into these nights of education and awareness! A close friend of Lauren’s stated that “Lauren Hoyal, our fearless Director had a vision and put it on stage! But what you don’t see is her backstage going to each student telling them that they are special and loved while putting jewels on the little girls’ faces and hugging every one of them! She is creating a culture of love first and the show second!” As they say – it takes a village! Thank you to choreographer, Rachel Jordan, started as a four year old in this program and just wanted to give back! Campbell DeVore and Taylor Walker also came back as camp staff! Our Tech Camp director Leigh DeVore who every day showed up even when it was a hard summer and loved our tech students! Hats off to her assistant Abby Kinard! Thank you to the show’s producer, Amanda Holt, and of course to Lauren – who brought some epic costumes to life during Finding Nemo Jr. and kudos to Cindy Thompson for all photo credits! Thank you to some of the children in the cast who also hosted a lemonade stand to help raise funds for TUAC! A very special thank you to Carmen Ellerbee, TUAC’s Executive Director, for helping work with Lauren and the community to make this play possible through the Arts Council and for wanting to help give back to another nonprofit, helping make a difference together! Carmen believes in the Thomaston community and the families that make up this beautiful community, like the Hoyal Family! It was a beautiful night of education, awareness and giving back on everyone’s part! To learn more about The Thomaston Upson Arts Council, please visit https://www.tuacga.com/

Here is a wonderful video from the Hoyal Family sharing more about microtia and atresia and the Ear Community Organization!
https://fb.watch/ufigZSff_d/

The Ear Community Organization plans to share the play on National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day on November 9th with the microtia and atresia community since so many community members asked about this play even though they do not live in the state of Georgia! Thank you so very much to Lauren, Perry, Vada and Paxton Hoyal for wanting to spread awareness and promote education about microtia and aural atresia in their community in Georgia! Thank you for thinking of our community & for wanting to give back to our Organization so we can continue doing more good work! A very special thank you to the Thomaston Upson Art Council too for all the good they do in the Thomaston community and to Tidal Wave Auto Spa who was this year’s corporate sponsor for this play and to the arts council! We think it is wonderful that “Shows with a Purpose” will go on to educate many more about rare causes and conditions within the community! Thank you for shining a light on microtia and atresia as the first of many “Shows with a Purpose”!
Melissa Tumblin
Executive Director
EarCommunity.org

Here are some fun memories from Finding Nemo Jr!