Media Contact:
Laura Odato
Director of Operations and Marketing
lodato@acialliance.org
(202) 263-9746

October 15, 2025

Dr. Craig Buchman Selected as Niparko Memorial Lecturer for CI2026 Chicago Conference

ACI Alliance is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Craig Buchman to deliver the annual Niparko Memorial Lecture at CI2026 Chicago on “Tonotopic Coding in Cochlear Implantation.” The Niparko lecture was established to recognize Dr. John K. Niparko’s enduring commitment to cochlear implant research and clinical care and honor his significant contributions to the field.

September 16, 2025

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Launches Search for New Executive Director

ACI Alliance is launching a search committee for the next Executive Director of the organization. After nearly 13 years growing ACI Alliance in scope and influence, founding Executive Director Donna Sorkin will be stepping down in 2026 and helping the next Executive Direction transition into the role.

July 1, 2025

Abstract Submissions Open for CI2026 Chicago: Conference on Cochlear Implants 

ACI Alliance is accepting abstract submissions for its upcoming clinical research conference. CI2026 Chicago: Conference on Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults. CI2026 Chicago will be held May 6-9, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.

June 5, 2025

Cochlear Implant Connections for Teens Launches with “Back to School” Webinar 

American Cochlear Implant Alliance is partnering with Lexi Finigan, a CI recipient and voice of Cece in the El Deafo Apple TV series.  The new webinar series aims to connect teenagers with hearing loss for support, advice, discussion, and community.

May 13, 2025

New Members Elected to American Cochlear Implant Alliance Board of Directors

ACI Alliance membership elected new board members and a new Chair during CI2025 Boston earlier this month. 

Read the full media alert here.

May 5, 2025

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Announces Student Poster Winners for CI2025 Boston

ACI Alliance congratulates the student poster winners for CI2025 Boston held last week at the Boston Seaport. The student poster competition was chaired by Meredith Ouellette MS and posters were reviewed by hearing health professionals across the care continuum.

Read the full media alert here.

March 4, 2025

Keynote Lecture on “Single-Sided Deafness and Frequency Allocation in Cochlear Implantation” by Dr. Paul H. Van de Heyning Announced for CI2025 Boston

Dr. Paul H. Van de Heyning has been selected to deliver a keynote lecture at CI2025 Boston entitled “Single-Sided Deafness and Frequently Allocation in Cochlear Implantation.” Dr. Van De Heyning’s lecture will be on Friday, May 2nd at 9:30AM. CI2025 Boston is taking place April 30 – May 3, 2025, at the at the OMNI Seaport Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.

Read the full media alert here.

January 28, 2025

Dr. Bruce Gantz to Receive ACI Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award at CI2025 Boston

Dr. Bruce Gantz will receive the ACI Alliance 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Opening Session of CI2025 Boston. The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes the contributions over the whole of a career and for the work and accomplishments of the individual being recognized.

Read the full media alert here.

January 16, 2025

Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers Given to Dr. Matthew Bush

Matthew Bush MD, PhD, MBA, Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Kentucky, was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award. This award was established in 1996 and is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers.

Read the full media alert here.

January 14, 2025

ACI Alliance Announces Student Scholarship Recipients for CI2025 Boston

ACI Alliance announced the student scholarship award recipients for CI2025 Boston: Conference on Cochlear Implants, to be held in Boston, Massachusetts April 30-May 3, 2025.

For a full list of scholarship winners: https://www.acialliance.org/page/ci2025scholarship

Read the full media alert here.

December 4, 2024

Registration Opens for ACI Alliance CI2025 Boston Conference on Cochlear Implants

Registration is open for the ACI Alliance CI2025 Boston Conference on Cochlear Implants taking place April 30 – May 3, 2025 at the Omni Seaport Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. Early bird rates are available through March 12, 2025 with registration discounts for ACI Alliance members.

Read the full media alert here.

November 7, 2024

ACI Alliance Submits Formal Request for Medicare Coverage of Cochlear Implantation in Single-Sided Deafness and Asymmetric Hearing Loss

Last week ACI Alliance submitted a formal request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand the Medicare program’s coverage policy on cochlear implantation for individuals with post-linguistic sensorineural hearing loss. The organization submitted a formal Request for Reconsideration of Medicare coverage (a National Coverage Determination or NCD) based on the clinical presentation of the ear to be implanted. 

Read the full media alert here.

October 23, 2024

Dr. Nancy M. Young Selected as Niparko Memorial Lecturer for CI2025 Boston Conference

ACI Alliance is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Nancy M. Young to deliver the annual Niparko Memorial Lecture at CI2025 Boston, on “Language Prediction to Improve Outcomes for Children with Cochlear Implants.” The Niparko lecture was established to recognize Dr. John K. Niparko’s enduring commitment to cochlear implant research and clinical care and honor his significant contributions to the field.

Read the full media alert here.

October 17, 2024

ACI Alliance Launches New “Ask the Audiologist” Blog

ACI Alliance launched a new blog aimed to reach individuals with hearing loss who are exploring cochlear implants for themselves, a family member or a child.

Read the full media alert here.

August 6, 2024

UnitedHealthcare to Expand Cochlear Implant Coverage for Children 

UnitedHealthcare announced an important expansion in their coverage of cochlear implants in children. Effective September 1, 2024, UnitedHealthcare will cover cochlear implants for children 6 months old or older with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) as well as children 9 months old and older with single-sided deafness (SSD). 

Read the full media alert here.

July 31, 2024

Abstract Submissions Open for CI2025 Boston: Conference on Cochlear Implants

ACI Alliance is accepting abstract submissions for its upcoming clinical research conference. CI2025 Boston: Conference on Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults. CI2025 Boston will be held April 30-May 3, 2025, at the Omni Seaport Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.

Read the full media alert here.

July 23, 2024

ACI ALLIANCE New Members Elected to American Cochlear Implant Alliance Board of Directors 

ACI Alliance membership elected new board members and thanked outgoing board members during CI2024 Vancouver: 17th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies held earlier this month in Vancouver, Canada.

Read the full media alert here.

July 15, 2024

ACI ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES STUDENT POSTER WINNERS FOR CI2024 VANCOUVER

ACI Alliance congratulates the student poster winners for CI2024 Vancouver: 17th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies held last week at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The student poster competition was chaired by Lisa Park AuD and posters were reviewed by hearing health professionals across the care continuum.

Read the full media alert here.

March 12, 2024

ACI ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES DR. JILL B. FIRSZT AS 2024 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT

Dr. Jill B. Firszt will receive the ACI Alliance 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Opening Session of the CI2024 Vancouver conference on July 11, 2024. The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes the contributions over the whole of a career and for the work and accomplishments of the individual being recognized.

Read the full media alert  here.

February 12, 2024

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Announces Student Scholarship Recipients for CI2024 Vancouver

ACI Alliance announced the student scholarship award recipients for CI2024 Vancouver: 17th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies, to be held in Vancouver, Canada July 10-13, 2024.

Read the full media alert here.

January 16, 2024

CI2024 VANCOUVER Registration Opens

Registration is open for the  ACI Alliance clinical research conference CI2024 Vancouver: 17th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies to be held July 10-13, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Read the full media alert here.

November 28, 2023

Dr. Ruth Litovsky Selected as Niparko Memorial Lecturer for CI2024 Vancouver

ACI Alliance is pleased to announce the selection of Ruth Litovsky PhD to deliver the annual Niparko Memorial Lecture at CI2024 Vancouver, on “Successful Pathways to Outcomes in Bilateral Cochlear Implantation.” The Niparko lecture was established to recognize Dr. John K. Niparko’s enduring commitment to cochlear implant research and clinical care and honor his significant contributions to the field.

Read the full media alert here.

September 18, 2023

ACI Alliance recently published comments responding to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report “Hearing Assessment in Infants, Children and Adolescents: Recommendations Beyond Neonatal Screening"

The September 2023 AAP report directs needed attention to the critical importance of hearing healthcare in children including assessment protocols and mention of CMV as a leading cause of childhood hearing loss. Unfortunately, it provides inaccurate or incomplete information on several important topics. Given that many pediatricians are unfamiliar with the options and opportunities for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and how they can play a key role in supporting a child’s hearing loss journey, we were disappointed with the reports inaccurate and biased information. We submitted Comments to Pediatrics, which have been published by AAP at the conclusion of the Clinical Report document. We encourage our members to join this important conversation. 

Read the Pediatrics Clinical Report here.

Save a Copy of the ACI Alliance Comment here: comments about the Clinical Report on Hearing Assessment that ACI Alliance submitted

Read the full media alert here.

August 16, 2023

Abstract Submissions Open for CI2024 International Conference on Cochlear Implants in Vancouver, Canada

ACI Alliance is accepting abstract submissions for its upcoming clinical research conference. CI2024 Vancouver: 17th International Conference on Cochlear Implants (CI) & Other Implantable Technologies will be held in Vancouver July 10-13, 2024.

Read the full media alert here.

August 2, 2023

ACI Alliance to Host CI2024: 17th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies in Vancouver

ACI Alliance will host its annual clinical research conference CI2024: 17th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies in Vancouver, Canada from July 10-13, 2024. The conference will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Read the full media alert here.

June 20, 2023

ACI Alliance Membership Elects New Members to Board of Directors

ACI Alliance membership elected new board members during CI2023 Dallas: Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults in Dallas, TX earlier this month.

Read the full media alert here.

June 14, 2023

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Announces Student Poster Winners for CI2023 Dallas 

ACI Alliance congratulates the student poster winners for CI2023 Dallas: Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults which was held in Dallas, TX June 7-10, 2023.

Read the full media alert here.

April 24, 2023

ACI Alliance to Award Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Peter Roland at CI2023 Dallas 

ACI Alliance will award the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award at its upcoming conference to Dr. Peter Roland. The award is given annually to an individual with an exemplary body of work in service to advancing cochlear implants. It will be given at the CI2023 conference at the Opening Session on June 8, 2023.

Read the full media alert here.

April 3, 2023

CI2023 Conference to Feature (Re)Habilitation Connect Forum to Address Therapy for Specific Populations Post Cochlear Implantation

CI2023 Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults will feature the (Re)Habilitation Connect Forum on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 1:30-5:15PM at the Hyatt Regency Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas. All conference participants may elect to attend the Forum at no additional charge.

Read the full media alert here.

March 6, 2023

ACI Alliance Task Force Guidelines Papers Win Ear & Hearing Readers’ Choice Award

Three ACI Alliance Task Force papers were awarded the Ear & Hearing Readers’ Choice Award on Friday, March 3rd at the American Auditory Society annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Readers’ Choice Award is given to the articles that have been accessed most often on the journal website and/or through the on-line portal.

Read the full media alert here.

February 8, 2023

ACI Alliance Announces Student Scholarship Recipients for CI2023 Dallas Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults

Scholarship applications were open to full-time students, fellows and postdoctoral scholars who have a clinical or research interest in cochlear implants and applicants were reviewed by a committee of professionals across the hearing health spectrum.

Read the full media alert here.

January 10, 2023

Registration Open for American Cochlear Implant Alliance Conference CI2023 Dallas

Registration is open for the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) annual clinical research conference CI2023: Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults in Dallas, Texas on June 7-10, 2023. The conference will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency Dallas Hotel. 

Read the full media alert here.

December 7, 2022

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Applauds Congressional Passage of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2022

Both chambers of Congress passed the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2022, sending the final bill to President Biden for signature. The Senate passed its version (S. 4052) on December 2nd and the House passed the same version on December 6th with a vote of 408-17. The bill reauthorization includes a requirement for a study by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on how information is collected and provided on state EHDI websites and other formats, and ways to address historically underserved communities. 

Read the full media alert here.

September 27, 2022

ACI Alliance Applauds CMS Decision Expanding Cochlear Implant Coverage under Medicare

The Centers for Medicare and Medicare (CMS) published its final rule to expand cochlear implant (CI) coverage for older adults who are Medicare beneficiaries on September 26. Hearing loss has been in the news with rollout of Over-the-Counter hearing aids for individuals with mild or moderate hearing loss. This decision provides a significant improvement in access to care for older adults with profound hearing loss who are Medicare beneficiaries.

Read the full media alert here.

September 7, 2022

Abstract Submission Open for American Cochlear Implant Alliance Conference CI2023 Dallas

ACI Alliance will host its annual clinic research conference CI2023: Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults in Dallas, Texas on June 7-10, 2023.

Read the full media alert here.

August 30, 2022

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Awards Research Pilot Grants to Washington University School of Medicine and University of Utah

ACI Alliance announces the award of research grants to Washington University School of Medicine (in St. Louis) and the University of Utah.

Read the full media alert here.

August 24, 2022

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Announces 10 New Courses for Tuesday Talks Webinar Series

ACI Alliance announces the latest course line-up and speakers for the upcoming Tuesday Talks webinar series, which highlights important information for parents, adults and others in cochlear implants and related hearing loss topics. 

Read the full media alert here.

August 23, 2022

A Deaf Child from China to the Voice of Apple TV’s El Deafo: The Power of Families

ACI Alliance published the story of Lexi Finigan, a cochlear implant recipient who voiced the title character in the 2022 streaming series El Deafo. Written by Lexi’s mother, Rosie Finigan, “A Deaf Child from China to the Voice of Apple TV’s El Deafo: The Power of Families,” is an engaging narrative chronicling Lexi’s story through persistent parental advocacy and the strength of supportive networks, both family and professional.

Read the full media alert here.

June 14, 2022

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Membership Elects New Member to Board of Directors 

At the organization’s annual member meeting in May, American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) membership elected a new Board Member.

Read the full media alert here.

May 25, 2022

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Announces Student Poster Winners for CI2022 DC

ACI Alliance congratulates the student poster winners for CI2022 DC: Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implantation (CI) which was held in Washington, DC May 18-21, 2022.

Read the full media alert here.

February 22, 2022

Lou Ferrigno—The Incredible Hulk—to Open Cochlear Implant Conference

ACI Alliance is pleased to announce that Lou Ferrigno, popularly known as The Incredible Hulk (a trademark of Marvel Characters, Inc), will participate in the Opening Session at CI2022 DC: Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implantation (CI). The conference will be held in Washington, DC May 18-21, 2022 at the Renaissance Washington Hotel.

Read the full media alert here.

Click here from information on CI2022 DC conference. 

February 7, 2022

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Announces Student Scholarship Recipients for
CI2022 DC: Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implantation

ACI Alliance announced the student scholarship award recipients for CI2022 DC: Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implantation, to be held in Washington, DC May 18-21, 2022. Conference scholarships were open to full-time students, fellows and postdoctoral scholars who have a clinical or research interest in cochlear implants, and the scholarship includes registration to the meeting, a $120 stipend, and a student membership in ACI Alliance. Submissions were reviewed by a committee of professionals across the hearing health spectrum.

Read the full media alert here.

Click here to see the recipient list.

Read more about our CI2022 click here.

December 9, 2021

AMERICAN COCHLEAR IMPLANT ALLIANCE Applauds the PASSAGE OF THE EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION ACT of 2021 in the U.S. House of Representatives

December 8, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5561, the “Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021,” on a 410-17 vote. The bill would reauthorize the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and NIH. Importantly it would require a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study analyzing how information disseminated by state EHDI programs are relied upon by parents and identify ways to address disparities in outreach to families. ACI Alliance recently reviewed the state EHDI websites and found significant variation in the critical information provided via these important electronic information sources.

Read the full media alert here.

Read more about our Early Intervention Initiatives here. 

October 21, 2021

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Announces Dr. René Gifford as 2022 Niparko Lecturer

ACI Alliance established the Niparko Lecture to be given at the annual conference to recognize Dr. Niparko’s enduring commitment to cochlear implant research and clinical care and honor his significant contributions to the field. René Gifford PhD, an audiologist, researcher, and professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, will deliver the 2022 Niparko Lecture at the Opening Session on Thursday morning. Dr. Gifford is the Director of the Cochlear Implant Research Laboratory, Director of the Cochlear Implant Program in the Division of Audiology, and Director of Research for the National Center for Childhood Deafness and Family Communication (NCCDFC) at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center.

Click here for media alert.

Click here for more information on CI2022 DC.

August 3, 2021

The Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno Shares Early Thoughts about his Cochlear Implant

Actor and bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno, popularly known from his role as The Incredible Hulk, sat down with American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) Executive Director Donna Sorkin to discuss his lifelong hearing loss and why he went forward with a cochlear implant at age 69.

Click here for media alert.

Click here for video interview.

July 8, 2021

Teresa Zwolan PhD, Renowned CI Audiologist and ACI Alliance Founding Co-Chair, to Retire from University of Michigan Medicine

Dr. Teresa Zwolan will retire from the University of Michigan on July 30 after 31 years as a cochlear implant audiologist at the university. Terry contributed importantly to the improvement of clinical practice for children and adults with hearing loss through her research, training activities, and her own clinical practice. She was a leader in the CI community’s efforts to expand candidacy criteria when it became clear that children and adults with more residual hearing, including those with single-sided deafness, would benefit from cochlear implantation.

Click here for media alert.

June 10, 2021

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Announces Details for In-Person CI2022 DC Conference

CI2022: Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implantation covering issues relating to CI in children and adults will take place May 18-22. The conference will feature plenaries as well as three concurrent sessions to allow attendees to pursue a wide array of cochlear implant and related content. As was the case in prior conferences the program offerings will be of interest to clinicians from across the care continuum, scientists, educators, and others on cochlear implant teams.

Click here for media alert.

May 10, 2021

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Membership Elects New Board Leadership

At the organization’s annual member meeting on April 30, American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) membership elected a new Board Member and a new Chair of the Board of Directors.

Click here for media alert.

April 21, 2021

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Leaders to Join Doctor Radio for “Sound of Metal” Recap on Wednesday, April 28th at 12N ET

American Cochlear Implant (ACI) Alliance Executive Director Donna Sorkin will be joining Dr. Sean McMenomey of NYU, ENT host of Doctor Radio, and Dr. Colin Driscoll of the Mayo Clinic on the Doctor Radio show on SiriusXM on Wednesday, April 28th at noon ET to discuss the film “Sound of Metal.”

Click here for media alert.

April 16, 2021

American Cochlear Implant Alliance to Award Two Lifetime Achievement Awards
at CI2021 Virtual Conference

The American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) will award two lifetime achievement awards at its upcoming virtual conference CI2021: Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults. The award is given annually to an individual with an exemplary body of work in service to advancing cochlear implants. It will be given at the CI 2021 Virtual Conference at the Opening Session on April 29, 2021 at 9:45 AM ET.

Click here for media alert.

April 8, 2021

U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell to Open American Cochlear Implant Alliance Conference

U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell from Michigan’s 12th District will speak live at the Opening Session of the upcoming annual conference hosted by the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) on Thursday, April 29th at 9:45AM EST. The conference, CI2021: Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults, will take place virtually from April 28 – May 1, 2021.

Click here for media alert.

March 15, 2021

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Opens Registration for Hearing Aid Specialist Workshop

This 2-hour virtual workshop is designed for hearing aid specialists seeking to learn more about cochlear implants and when to refer patients for an evaluation, and includes access to the CI2021 virtual exhibit area. It features four segments by internationally recognized cochlear implant clinicians, an adult consumer, and a hearing aid specialist who regularly works with a CI practice in his community.

Click here to register.

Click here for brochure.

Click here for Media Alert.

March 1, 2021

American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) Opens Registration for Consumer Workshop

This half day workshop is designed for parents, adult consumers and family members interested in learning more about cochlear implants. It will feature internationally recognized cochlear implant scientists and clinicians who will share and engage on up-to-date research and clinical experience via presentation, discussion, and question and answer sessions. A virtual exhibit hall will also be open to attendees where they will have an opportunity to meet representatives of companies that manufacture cochlear implants and provide other hearing technologies and services.

Click here to register.

Click here for Media Alert.

January 25, 2021

American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) Publishes Story of COVID Survivor: Finding a “New Normal” After Sudden Single-Sided Deafness

Michael, a married father of two living in New Jersey, contracted a severe case of COVID in the spring of 2020. He was hospitalized for 32 days, including time spent on a ventilator in a medically induced coma. After he woke from the coma in March and returned home, he realized he had lost his hearing in his left ear. Prior to his hospitalization, he had not been aware of having hearing loss.

Click here for Media Alert.

Click here for past years Media Alerts.