We are excited to partner with the International Hearing Society (IHS), a membership association representing hearing healthcare professionals worldwide. IHS members are hearing aid dispensers engaged in the practice of testing hearing and selecting, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments as well as counseling patients.

The partnership was an outcome of ongoing efforts by Past Chair and Audiologist Meredith Holcomb, who has been working with IHS chapters and individual hearing aid specialists providing educational presentations on when to refer patients for a cochlear implant evaluation. Dr. Holcomb has found great interest by this group of hearing care professionals in learning more about CI and how they can better serve their patients.

The staff of ACI Alliance is working with IHS leadership to discuss how to best work together and how this collaboration can benefit both organization’s missions.

IHS members are welcome to join ACI Alliance for a one-time discount. If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please contact Jessica Houk; jhouk@acialliance.org.

Increasing Cochlear Implant Awareness in Hearing and Primary Health Care

Supporting hearing health professionals to know when to refer a patient for a cochlear implant (CI) evaluation is a high priority for American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance). To advance that objective across the care continuum, the organization has enlarged its efforts to grow CI awareness among health care professionals outside of hearing health as well as those within the hearing health community who do not provide CI services. Read the full article on page 33 of the International Hearing Society's (IHS) magazine.

How to Help Your Patients Who Struggle to Hear Better (and love your services) | Webinar

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This webinar discusses the work of hearing instrument specialists who have patients who struggle to hear with hearing aids know how and when to begin the discussion of cochlear implants.

Learn about the most common reasons adults wait to move forward with cochlear implants from speakers, Meredith Holcomb, AuD, Associate Professor & Director, Hearing Implant Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Donna L. Sorkin, Executive Director at American Cochlear Implant Alliance.

A long-time CI user will discuss her personal hearing journey and the benefits she derived—both being able to communicate much more easily and enjoying quality of life benefits including reductions in fatigue, music appreciation, and overall quality of life.

Read our article in The Hearing Journal: June 2021 - Volume 74 - Issue 6 - p6. Is Your Hearing Aid Patient a CI Candidate? Holcomb, Meredith AuD; Odato, Laura MPP