Ear Community donates gently used hearing devices to the Marion Downs Center

Dr. Marion Downs pioneered the first national infant hearing screening program in 1963 in Denver, CO.  Dr. Downs was an exemplary teacher who lectured extensively throughout the United States and in more than fifteen foreign countries. She has published nearly 100 articles and books on various aspects of audiology, including serving as co-author of Hearing in Children, a successful textbook updated through six editions between 1972 and 2013, and translated into several foreign languages. Hearing in Children was the cornerstone for thousands of audiologists-in-training to learn how to evaluate and manage children with hearing loss. Dr. Downs is recognized internationally for her work in pediatric audiology; her publications and lectures have brought worldwide attention to the importance of early intervention for hearing loss.  She almost single-handedly alerted the medical world to the speech and language development problems associated with childhood hearing loss. In order to ensure that pediatric hearing loss would remain a priority concern for all pediatric health care professionals, in 1969, Dr. Downs proposed that a national committee be established, composed of representatives from professional hearing healthcare organizations, to periodically review and evaluate, as well as recommend “best practices” approaches, to newborn hearing screening programs. As a direct result of her visionary thinking, a national Joint Committee on Infant Hearing was organized to provide multi-disciplinary leadership and guidance for 35 years in all areas of newborn and infant hearing issues.

Our Ear Community Organization has been collaborating with the Marion Downs Center since 2015.

Thank you.
Melissa Tumblin
Founder -Executive Director
Ear Community Organization
www.EarCommunity.org