Listening is a vehicle for us to share information on cochlear implants and hearing loss with hearing healthcare providers, adult CI recipients (and those exploring CI), parents and family members interested in CI, educators who work with deaf and hard of hearing children, and anyone wanting to learn more about cochlear implants. 

ACI Alliance is a not-for-profit organization created with the purpose of eliminating barriers to cochlear implantation by sponsoring research, driving heightened awareness and advocating for improved access to cochlear implants for people of all ages. There is a wealth of information on our website. 

Our work at ACI Alliance follows our mission encompassing research, advocacy, and awareness. Accordingly, Listening covers all three.

We encourage you to share sign-up details for this free e-newsletter with patients, family members, colleagues or anyone who may be interested.

Ruth Litovsky PhD has been selected 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.

Dr. Litovsky is the Oros Family chair in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She has a joint appointment in the Division of Otolaryngology in the Department of Surgery, and serves as the Academic Associate Dean for the Division of Natural, Physical & Mathematical Sciences in the College of Letters & Science.

American Cochlear Implant Alliance maintains a website providing resources on all aspects of cochlear implantation for parents, adult consumers, students, primary care doctors, and hearing health professionals. Content is current and evidence-based. We have compiled these specific resources for parents of children with hearing loss. 

ACI Alliance Members were pleased to participate as invited speakers at the recent conference of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in Boston. Presentations and speakers included the following:

Expanded Indications Across the Continuum of Hearing Technology for Adults – Camille Dunn PhD and Aaron Moberly MD
Tips and Tricks for Cochlear Implant MAPping (2-Hour Master Class – Camille Dunn PhD and Jordan McNair AuD
Expanded Indications Across the Continuum of Hearing Technology for Infants and Children – Shannon Hamill AuD and Jordan McNair AuD
Loss to Follow-up in Pediatric Audiology: Underlying Barriers -Donna Sorkin MA

For hearing healthcare professionals, it is so important to stay up to date on the latest research, best practices, and evidence-based protocols. Hearing First is making it easier than ever for busy professionals to access research-based information and proven strategies and protocols to improve professional practice with the brand new online learning opportunities! 

Reasons to Learn with Hearing First 
Hearing First courses translate the latest science to practice for professionals to improve listening and spoken language outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Learning is totally free and comes at no cost to you 
• CE credits available from AAA, AG Bell, and ASHA
• There’s a focus on a multidisciplinary approach and collaborative care
• Courses are led by world-renowned pediatric hearing healthcare experts 
• A community and network for learning, support, and connection with thousands of other professionals 
• Choose how you learn best, self-study and live online options available 

WHEN: December 7, 2023
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET

Zoom Link will be sent once registered

Literacy achievement has long been a concern of parents and professionals working with deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children. Recent research has found that age-appropriate reading skills are possible for many of today's DHH elementary schoolers to achieve (e.g., Mayer et al., 2021; Smolen et al., 2020). But the road to successful reading begins long before formal schooling. In fact, the early intervention (EI) period provides many opportunities for parents and professionals to facilitate preliteracy skills. This presentation will explore preliteracy development for DHH infants and toddlers as they are getting ready to become successful readers.   

Registration opens January 26, 2024. This camp promotes CI families sharing connection, friendship, and education in a fun filled 4-day weekends hosted at the YMCA of the Rockies - Estes Park, CO.

June 27-30, 2024 for CI Recipients Entering 5th Grade - 2024 High School Graduates along with their parents & siblings.

July 25-28, 2024 for CI Recipients Age 3 - Entering 4th Grade along with their parents & siblings.

ACI Alliance has been a member of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (“ITEM”) Coalition for over a decade. It is a national consumer- and clinician-led coalition advocating for access to and coverage of assistive devices, technologies, and related services for persons with injuries, illnesses, disabilities, and chronic conditions of all ages. The ITEM Coalition has submitted letters in support of our work with CMS to expand Medicare coverage and more. Recently, we have signed onto a number of letters to Congress and federal agencies on changes to laws that prohibit discrimination for programs that receive federal funding, discrimination in web accessibility, and other key health items that impact our members. Please visit our Testimony and Comments Page on the Website to learn more. 

CI CAN is designed to amplify ACI Alliance’s ongoing efforts with grassroots advocacy. Anyone who has or needs a cochlear implant or supports others may join our network. ACI Alliance staff and volunteers provide training and guidance and there is no cost to join or participate. Join our network and help us make a difference.

The World Hearing Forum hosted a hybrid in-person and virtual meeting for stakeholders and members in Geneva, Switzerland November 27-29. As a member of the World Hearing Forum, ACI Alliance was pleased to attend and participate virtually to discuss important topics on hearing health care, World Hearing Day, and related topics.

Authored by Hasan Abdulbaki, Jonathan Mo, Charles J. Limb, Nicole T. Jiam

Musical rehabilitation has been used in clinical and nonclinical contexts to improve postimplantation auditory processing in implanted individuals. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of music rehabilitation in controlled experimental and quasi-experimental studies on cochlear implant (CI) user speech and music perception.

Even among people with presumed qualifying levels of hearing loss, there exists a widespread lack of familiarity with cochlear implantation as a viable treatment option. This limited awareness seems influenced by a generally poor appreciation for hearing loss as a chronic disease state that warrants treatment. However, among those familiar with cochlear implants, they are generally viewed favorably.

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In an effort to support and advance research activities by our members, ACI Alliance provides a service to assist our members to collect information from other CI clinicians and investigators on the CI process, outcomes, access barriers and research needs.

School-age children undergoing cochlear implantation are needed for a study of listening-related fatigue. Participation is 100% virtual, requires the child and caregiver complete several 10-minute surveys before and after implantation, and includes compensation (Amazon gift cards). Children must be 5-17 years old, speak/understand English or Spanish, and be scheduled to receive a cochlear implant within the next six months. Children getting their 1st or 2nd implant and those receiving bilateral implants are eligible for this study. Complete the interest form below and one of our study team members will reach out with more information.

Some places are just too noisy for good conversation. Here is a list of the quietest and loudest restaurant chains and information about how SoundPrint's app, a kind of 'Yelp app for Noise,' can help you find quieter public places like restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and more.

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