Monthly Archives: June 2015

Lifting up Luca with the Ponto Plus Power

We all want our hopes and dreams to come to fruition, but what happens when they come to fruition before you’re ready? For Anne and Robert Brooks, their hope and dream was to give birth to a baby boy. This aspiration did come true, but too soon—their son, Luca, was born prematurely at 34 weeks.

As a result of the early delivery, Luca was born with, as well as diagnosed post-birth with Branchio-oto-renal syndrome. Anne and Robert with met with an Audiologist and ENT to learn more about Luca’s condition and potential solutions. After learning about all of the hearing solution options, they set out on a long and tiresome quest over the course of a year that consisted of carefully written emails, letters, and marathon phone calls with their insurance provider. Ultimately, this proved to be a fruitless effort, as they were denied coverage.

During this time, they came across Ear Community and learned met many other families who shared their stories and advice.

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Apply Now: Oticon Medical’s 2015 Advocate Leadership Workshop

It’s that time! We’re excited to open up applications for Oticon Medical’s 2015 Advocate Leadership Workshop. Starting today, you can apply or nominate a Ponto user you know to attend the workshop that will take place September 18-20, 2015 in Somerset, New Jersey at the Oticon Medical U.S. headquarters.

Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with other Ponto users, share their stories and provide real-time feedback to help influence the future of the hearing industry. Selected applicants will receive an all-expenses paid trip to New Jersey for the workshop.

Please note that this workshop is specific to Ponto users currently living in the United States. Applications must be received before Friday, July 3 at 5:00pm EST to be considered.

Here are just a few of the amazing memories we have from past workshops.

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From the Field: How Active Ponto Users Play with Their Pontos in Place

What does your day-to-day look like? It probably involves waking up, getting ready and going to work or school. In just the first couple hours of the day, there are the sounds of the alarm clock going off, the shower turning on, the coffee machine percolating, the car turning on or the bus pulling up and the hum of traffic.

If you’re like many people, your day also includes some type of activity. Running, riding a bike, and playing sports—all activities in which sound continues to play a crucial role.

Here’s how two of our community members play best with their Pontos.

The Creative Karate Kid

Sonja Herne’s son Jack loves karate, and he wears bilateral Pontos on a softband. When he advanced to a red belt, requiring a helmet during activity, Sonja and Jack got creative. When Jack practices karate, they remove one of his Pontos and shift the other to the back-middle of his head. They found a gap in the back of the helmet, which allows the Ponto to sit unobstructed.

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Q&A with Christina D’Allesandro: Her Seven-Year-Old’s Journey from Softband to Ponto Implant

Remember Anthony Smith, also known as Blue Ear? The seven-year-old who inspired Marvel Comics to create a new Superhero with a listening device just received a super upgrade.

Anthony After Surgery

Success and popsicles!

Recently, Anthony had surgery to go from temporary to temporal, having an abutment placed that would allow him to move from a Ponto on a softband to using the Ponto on a titanium implant that sits in the bone behind the ear.

After a long wait, Anthony had stage 2 surgery for his Ponto abutment on May 5, 2015.

“We waited 14 months to try again and we were all so happy to get the go ahead. Working with our provider we decided a two stage surgery would give Ants the best results,” Christina explained.

 

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