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.

Terry Zwolan PhD is a clinical audiologist and researcher who served as director of the University of Michigan cochlear implant program for 31 years but her contributions and impact on the field of cochlear implantation goes far beyond Michigan. Dr. Zwolan’s clinical practice, research and mentorship has benefitted her patients and advanced our work in the larger hearing loss community. She is known for her broad knowledge of hearing loss in people of all ages, her insightful analysis of treatment and outcomes, her contributions to the body of research that has advanced our field, and her willingness to contribute wherever she was needed.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the contributions over the whole of a career and for the work and accomplishments of the individual being recognized. Each year the ACI Alliance honors a person whose life work has steadfastly promoted the values and ideals that guide and inspire us and our mission as an organization. The Award will be given to Dr. Zwolan at the Opening Session of CI2022 DC on May 19.

We are pleased to announce that Lou Ferrigno, popularly known as The Incredible Hulk, will help us open the upcoming CI conference. The Incredible Hulk is a trademark of Marvel Characters, Inc. Lou is an American actor, fitness trainer, and inspiration to several generations of film and TV fans. He recently received a cochlear implant. He is candid about the challenges he faced given his childhood hearing loss and how he overcame them. 

In February 2021, Lou, received a cochlear implant. We were fortunate enough to interview him. ACI Alliance Executive Director Donna Sorkin and Lou discuss his lifelong hearing loss and why he went forward with a cochlear implant at age 69.

Jodi co-authored the book, Rally Caps, based on true events from her own life as a mother to a child with hearing loss. Now being made into a feature film to premiere in summer 2022, Jodi will discuss her family’s experience with hearing loss and what she hopes to accomplish by making Rally Caps a movie.

Dr. Holcomb will lead the second of two sessions by experienced CI audiologists that focus on what is happening during a mapping session. Mapping involves programming of the sound processor by an audiologist who has special expertise in the field of cochlear implants. The purpose of mapping is to set stimulation levels to maximize sound perception for the CI recipient. This talk is designed for adult CI recipients.

Starting on March 2, ACI Alliance and AudiologyOnline are proud to launch our collaborative weekly Wednesday series at 12 Noon ET covering ACI Alliance Task Force Guidelines for Determining Cochlear Implant Candidacy in four populations:

• Adults (March 2)
• Children (March 9)
• Adults with Single-Sided Deafness or Asymmetric Hearing Loss (March 16)
• Children with Single-Sided Deafness (March 23)

All sessions are free to view live and in recorded format though require registration in AudiologyOnline for an attendee to receive CEUs.

Cochlear implants provide meaningful access to sound for those with more severe hearing loss. Even the most advanced hearing aids may not overcome the hearing difficulties associated with moderate to profound hearing loss. A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged areas of the cochlea and may provide improved hearing abilities for speech understanding and the perception of music and environmental sounds.

Please share these resources on your networks to advance awareness on February 25. Use the hashtag #InternationalCochlearImplantDay in your social media.

During the past decade, more adults with one ear having functional hearing have received a cochlear implant.  There is no formal definition for "functional hearing." Given expanded candidacy criteria to include those with asymmetric hearing loss, there are now CI recipients who can understand speech without lip-reading to some degree—especially in quiet conditions. This blog post suggests ways to improve outcomes in the CI ear for those with usable hearing in the contralateral ear.

ACI Alliance submits comments to federal agencies and testimony to state legislatures and Congress relating to issues surrounding access to cochlear implants. Past letters and testimony have focused on parent choice, early intervention issues, telehealth policies, veteran access, and insurance coverage.

Read our latest comments on joining Habilitation Benefits Coalition letter to CMS on the 2023 proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters.

Join us at CI2022 DC Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implantation in Children and Adults by registering now. Early Bird registration rates end March 22! Don't miss the opportunity to register at these reduced rates.

The conference is in-person with a virtual option and will feature plenary keynotes and panels, complete with live discussion. As always, there will be submitted podium talks and posters. You won't want to miss the discussion as we explore important emerging issues in CI with key thought leaders.

More information on CI2022 DC will be available soon in the published program. 

Despite widespread literacy of what constitutes normal vision, blood pressure, and total cholesterol levels, respondents exhibit substantially poorer understanding of ‘‘normal’’ hearing levels. Most adults believe that few treatment options exist for the management of hearing loss. Underlying the uniformly limited literacy surrounding hearing loss and its treatment options is the adult population’s lack of appreciation for the long-term health consequences of untreated hearing loss.

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Task Force Guidelines for Clinical Assessment and Management of Cochlear Implantation in Children with Bilateral and Single-Sided Deafness

The latest issue of Ear & Hearing includes the first two of four papers by ACI Alliance Task Forces on CI candidacy and management. The four Task Forces were assembled to provide clarity on candidacy determination for adults (bilateral deafness and SSD) and children (bilateral deafness and SSD). The March/April issue includes two papers on pediatric candidacy determination—one regarding bilateral deafness and one on single-sided deafness. A future issue of Ear & Hearing will include papers on adult candidacy determination. We are grateful for the important collaborative work of the task forces in helping promote broader understanding of candidacy determination and management in these populations. We also recognize and thank Ear and Hearing for working with us on these unique resources for the broad hearing loss community.   

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