Jaytee receives the gift of hearing thanks to Ear Community and Oticon Medical

Jaytee Savage, Oticon Medical Ponto recipient and Pax’s Ear Fund recipient, September 1, 2023, Colorado.

September 1, 2023
Ear Community had the opportunity to help another community member hear with a bone anchored hearing device after being denied by his insurance provider.

Meet Jaytee! Jaytee was born w/bilateral microtia & atresia. Jaytee has struggled for the past 30 years with hearing loss in both of her ears, even though she reads lips well. However, she just could not continue struggling to hear everyday! On Friday, September 1st, Jaytee received the gift of hearing with a NEW Ponto 5 Superpower bone anchored hearing device from the Ear Community Organization, thanks to Oticon Medical ! Thank you to Jaytee’s audiologist, Dr. Jordan Belanger of the Marion Downs Center, for fitting & programming Jaytee’s new Ponto 5SP! Jaytee, we are so happy that you can finally hear so much better!

Jaytee is excited to begin a new career at the diversity & inclusion office for students w/disabilities at Metro State University! We know you will be able to help so many students feel included now, especially hearing your best with your Ponto! #BecauseSoundMatters

Over the years, Ear Community has partnered w/local hearing clinics when helping give the gift of hearing. It was great to collaborate again with the Marion Downs Center to help Jaytee w/his fitting/programming. It was especially nice to see a dear friend of mine – Dr. Sandra Abbott Gabbard, CEO & President of the Marion Down’s Center, during Jaytee’s appointment. Sandra is an amazing audiologist & advocate, she is a legend & I am proud to know her & her dedicated work to individuals w/hearing loss!

The state of Colorado is known for being a high advocacy state when it comes to hearing loss. Marion Downs was a distinguished professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She devoted her professional life to promoting early identification of hearing loss in newborns, infants, & young children. It is because of her that in 1963, she pioneered the 1st national infant hearing screening program in Denver, CO! Her success has resulted in a widespread national program, which makes the screening of newborn hearing a functioning preventative program in more than 40 states!

Thank you!
Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org