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.

Dr. Craig Buchman, MD, FACS is Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Utah (as of January 1, 2026) and Past Lindburg Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis. He will be discussing "Tonotopic Coding in Cochlear Implantation.”

ACI Alliance is pleased to offer a limited number of scholarships for students, residents, and fellows in hearing sciences who wish to pursue clinical practice and/or research in cochlear implantation. The scholarships awarded will provide the conference registration, a $120 stipend, and a complimentary membership to ACI Alliance until the date of the students’ program completion. The deadline to submit a CI2026 Student Scholarship Application is December 1, 2025.

NY Times publishes “When a Hearing Aid Isn’t Enough” on Oct 23, 2025 by Paula Span. Cochlear implants (CIs) in older adults are increasingly common and can be very successful in improving hearing, communication, and overall quality of life. We are thrilled such a highly regarded publication has taken on this important topic and made information on CI more accessible to a broad audience.

The Request for Proposals,A Family Navigation Approach to Supporting Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, aims to support timely access to pediatric hearing healthcare through the implementation of navigator programs. The Foundation is accepting proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations in the US who would like to introduce or expand a navigator program to assist families in achieving early hearing detection, identification, and intervention benchmarks.Applications are open now and will close on Tuesday, November 28, 2025.  

ACI Alliance will be exhibiting at the ASHA convention November 20-22 in Washington, DC. Be sure to stop by the booth to pick up free resources. 

Explore the inspiring stories of children and adults who have received cochlear implants. Through their experiences, learn more about the CI community, the implantation process, and the life-changing outcomes that follow. 

MED-EL USA announced that, together with Starkey, DualSync technology was awarded a Hearing Technology Innovator Award in the Bimodal Hearing Category. The annual awards program, hosted by Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM), recognizes technological innovation and achievement in the hearing industry. 

Follow our music page for a well-rounded list of tips and resources for cochlear implant recipients to enjoy music, combining practical strategies, training tools, and community-based support.  

As you plan your end-of-year giving, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to American Cochlear Implant Alliance to support the work without raising fees or increasing our dependence upon industry. Together we can continue to make a difference in expanding access to cochlear implants for all we may benefit.

We encourage you to review our current Action Alerts related to key legislation. By selecting an issue, you can easily send a message to your political representative, helping them understand the potential impact of these bills on clinicians, parents, and adult recipients. 

Kelly Jenkins, Program Manager of Access to Language, shares how groups are leveraging parent navigator programs, mobile audiology services, and data-driven communications to help children with hearing loss reach age-appropriate listening, spoken language, and literacy milestones. This will explore how efforts in Georgia are helping children who are deaf or hard of hearing overcome barriers to care as part of a statewide initiative to improve literacy outcomes. 

ACI Alliance is meeting with members of the U.S. Congress to discuss the importance of retaining a robust IDEA program and ensure continued support for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees that all children with disabilities, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), have access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

ACI Alliance participated in the 15th conference of the global coalition co-chaired by Drs. James Saunders and Jackie Clarke. The conference included attendees from around the world. ACI Alliance member Asitha Jayawardena MD gave the opening keynote on his own personal journey and efforts to offer school-based hearing screening. Executive Director Donna Sorkin presented on language nutrition as part of a segment on empowering parents.