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.

Feedback from prior meetings emphasized the desire for more content presented in an interactive format. We have moved forward with more discussion format sessions. Check out the full program below and stay current following our page. 

Please help us make the fall series even better by taking our survey. 

Tuesday Talks are captioned and free to view. The inaugural four-part series covered late onset hearing loss in children, the new Rally Caps film, and two talks on understanding a mapping session (one for parents and one for adults). Each webinar is moderated by members of our consumer network (CI CAN) who bring their own personal experience with hearing loss and CI to the discussion. We anticipate offering another series this fall, so stay tuned! 

Dr. Mark Syms interviewed ACI Alliance Executive Director Donna Sorkin for the latest episode of the ListenUp! Podcast. The discussion includes the current challenges in legislation and cultural perception of implants, as well as ACI Alliance’s work and Donna’s own experience with her hearing loss. 

A few days ago, a good friend complained that she didn’t know how to cook. I responded by telling her "If you can make a salad, you can also make soup. I'll send you the recipe." The exchange made me think of my experiences with patients who are adult CI recipients. Part of my job as a therapist is to help patients acquire new auditory and communication skills.

Karl R. White PhD, has been selected to receive the Thomas F. Campbell Callier Prize in Communication Disorders . He is a professor of psychology at Utah State University and the founding director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management. Dr. White has been at the forefront of research, training and advocacy related to early hearing detection and intervention for nearly 40 years. In 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ACI Alliance.

Lisa Aubert, an audiologist who has worked in the cochlear implant field for over thirty years, has been named president of Cochlear Americas following the recent retirement of Tony Manna. Prior to this recent appointment, Lisa had worked for Cochlear in the US and Europe for 28 years including serving as the primary research audiologist on the original CI clinical trials in the UK. She brings three decades of experience and passion for providing people with access to the benefits of hearing with a cochlear implant, to her latest leadership position.

Following on the House passage, the Senate has introduced S. 4052 , a  bipartisan reauthorization of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program. The bill reauthorizes the newborn hearing screening program and early intervention services for children who are diagnosed with a hearing loss. ACI Alliance will continue to support and track this key legislation.

We are pleased to highlight a new funding opportunity announcement (FOA), RFA-DC-23-001 : NIDCD Research Opportunities for New Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01, Clinical Trial Optional).

The purpose of this FOA is to solicit R01 grant applications that propose independent research projects that are within the scientific mission areas of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) .  Responsive applications will propose research in communication disorders including those affecting hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.  The program is intended to support Early Stage and New Investigators from diverse backgrounds.