Grassroots Effort to Encourage and Inspire People to Get Involved and Change Lives of Those Struggling with Hearing Loss

Cochlear Americas Launches “Have You Heard?” Campaign

Grassroots Effort to Encourage and Inspire People to Get Involved
and Change Lives of Those Struggling with Hearing Loss.

Challenges the Public to Help Spread the Word – One Million People In 31
Days!

Will Donate Up to $150,000 in Products and Accessories to People in Need

Centennial, Colo., (May 3, 2011) – Today, Cochlear Americas, the global
leader in implantable hearing solutions, announced its participation in
Better Hearing and Speech Month by launching a new campaign, “Have You
Heard?” to increase awareness of hearing loss and advanced hearing
solutions. The campaign reflects Cochlear’s commitment and passion for
bringing the gift of sound to those with hearing loss. Few people are aware
of this growing public health issue, its’ social and economic impact and the
availability of hearing loss solutions. One out of every 10 people in the
U.S. are estimated to have hearing loss.1,2 And, an estimated two million
people in the U.S. may be candidates for implantable technology, but
approximately only 5 percent of people who can benefit have been treated.3,4

As part of this grassroots campaign Cochlear is challenging the public to
help spread the word about hearing loss and hearing loss solutions to one
million people in 31 days! “We want to encourage as many people as
possible to get involved in this effort and inspire others to help change
the lives of those who may be struggling with hearing loss” said Chris
Smith, President Cochlear Americas. “Few people are aware of the meaning of
hearing loss, the challenges for individuals and families in dealing with
hearing loss and the options that are available to improve quality of
life.”

With the launch of this new initiative, Cochlear Americas is encouraging all
Americans to visit www.CochlearAmericas.com/MillionEarChallenge and take the
million ear challenge. Visitors will learn more about the facts of hearing
loss and available treatment solutions, read inspirational stories of people
who have had their hearing restored with a cochlear implant and share
messages of hope. When taking the challenge, visitors will be provided with
a “Have You Heard?” e-toolkit. The toolkit will help them help others by
spreading the word through social media and online activities such as
FaceBook, Twitter, and email as well as local community events.

Cochlear Americas is so excited about the ‘Have You Heard?’ campaign the
company developed the “Give Back” commitment. Each year Cochlear donates
more than $200,000 in products and accessories to people in need. When the
goal is reached through the Million Ear Challenge, they’ll celebrate by
donating up to an additional $150,000 in products and accessories to people
in need by “giving back” two cochlear implants, ten processor upgrades and
one full set of accessories for cochlear implant use. Learn more about the
“Have You Heard?” campaign and take the million ear challenge by visiting:
http://www.CochlearAmericas.com/MillionEarChallenge.

About Better Hearing and Speech Month

BHSM is an annual event that has taken place every May since 1927. The event
was started to raise public awareness, knowledge and understanding of
various forms of communication impairments including hearing and speech.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders, two to three of every 1,000 children are born deaf or
hard-of-hearing and one in three people over age 65 have some degree of
hearing loss. With hearing loss becoming more common as younger people lose
hearing due to noise exposure and baby boomers age, Better Hearing and
Speech Month has become even more important as a means of educating the
public.

About Cochlear Americas

Cochlear is the world leader in implantable hearing solutions. Since
launching the first multichannel cochlear implant system more than 28 years
ago, Cochlear Limited has brought the miracle of sound to more than 230,00
individuals with hearing loss across the globe. Cochlear offers industry
leading hearing technology solutions which include Nucleus Cochlear Implants
and the Baha System, an implantable bone-anchored hearing device. Both
products are the number one choice in their category. For more information
about Cochlear Americas’ products, call Cochlear Americas at 800/523-5798
(Voice or TDD) or visit http://www.cochlearamericas.com

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