October 3, 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.