Washington, DC, July 2004 - Cochlear Americas®, manufacturer of the Nucleus® line of cochlear implants, has joined the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) in its educational efforts by becoming a founding member of the Circle Alliance Partnership. The partnership, which is being funded through a substantial, multi-year contribution from Cochlear Americas, will aim to provide the hearing loss community, including educators and clinicians, with information and resources that promote listening and talking.
"Cochlear Americas is delighted to join the efforts of AG Bell and become a founding member of the Circle Alliance Partnership," said Susan Van Horne, Vice President, Marketing, Cochlear Americas. "This partnership provides a unique opportunity to reach out to the hearing health community with the information and resources available to encourage oral language skills".
The primary objective of the Circle Alliance Partnership program is to increase awareness about spoken language options for people with hearing loss around the world. As a first step towards meeting this goal, Cochlear Americas and AG Bell will co-develop educational materials resources for health care professionals.
"Learning to listen and speak with a profound hearing loss requires a great deal of habilitation and community support," added Van Horne. "Through this partnership, Cochlear Americas hopes not only to help raise awareness of the options available for developing spoken language but provide the resources needed in order to achieve success."
"AG Bell appreciates the leadership and support from Cochlear Americas as—together—we expand opportunities for children and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing to achieve greater independence." said K. Todd Houston, Ph.D., Executive Director/CEO, AG Bell. "The Circle Alliance Partnership enables AG Bell to collaborate with Cochlear Americas and other companies in the hearing health industry to significantly impact and influence."
For more information on AG Bell or Cochlear Americas, please contact:
Contacts
Susan Van Horne, Vice President, Marketing
Cochlear Americas
303-524-7103 (V)
svanhorne@cochlear.com
www.cochlear.com
Garrett Yates, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
202-337-5220 ext. 121 (V)
gyates@agbell.org
www.agbell.org
About Cochlear Americas
For more than 20 years, Cochlear Limited and its US headquarters, Cochlear Americas, have been focused on bringing the miracle of sound to those individuals who live in silence. To date, more than 50,000 profoundly deaf individuals have benefited from Cochlear's Nucleus® line of cochlear implants. The Company's promise of Hear Now. And Always exemplifies its commitment to advancing hearing technology and customer support, which has resulted in numerous awards including the 2001 Medical Design Excellence Award for its design of the Cochlear Nucleus® 24 Contour® cochlear implant and the FDA Commissioner's Special Citation for the development and commercialization of the Cochlear Nucleus®24 Multichannel Auditory Brainstem implant. For more information about Cochlear's products, call the Cochlear Nucleus® Hotline at 800/458-4999 (Voice) or 800/483-3123 (TTY) or visit the Web site at www.cochlear.com.
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) is a lifelong resource, support network, and advocate for listening, learning, talking, and living independently with hearing loss. Through publications, outreach, training, scholarships, and financial aid, AG Bell promotes the use of spoken language and hearing technology. Headquartered in Washington, DC with chapters located in the United States and Canada and a network of international affiliates, AG Bell's global presence provides its members and the public with the support they need-close to home. With over a century of service, AG Bell supports its mission: Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking! For more information, contact AG Bell at (202) 337- 5220 or visit the AG Bell website at www.agbell.org.
