1971 – ATA was founded by Jack A. Vernon, Ph.D., and Charles Unice, Ph.D., in Portland, Oregon.
1975 – The first ATA newsletter is sent out to members in April. The newsletter notes that, “There are about 95 members of ATA.”
1976 – ATA forms a Scientific Advisory Committee to guide the association in all areas of tinnitus science and research. This committee is comprised of leading specialists in tinnitus and other auditory disorders.
1977 – ATA coordinates nationwide educational workshops on tinnitus, providing information to more than 1,200 hearing health professionals.
1980 – ATA awards its first tinnitus research grant to Mary B. Meikle, Ph.D., who uses the money to start the first-ever registry of tinnitus patients. The project eventually attracts funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and grows into a valuable tool for tinnitus researchers.
1982 – ATA establishes a nationwide support group network, helping tinnitus patients connect with each other and learn from shared experience.
1986 – ATA founder Jack A. Vernon, Ph.D., and Gloria Reich, Ph.D., former Executive Director appear on the MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour.
1988 – ATA's newsletter, published since 1975, becomes Tinnitus Today, a regular magazine focused on the needs of tinnitus patients.
1995 – ATA hosts the Fifth International Tinnitus Seminar in Portland, Oregon. Scientists from 25 countries appear and present papers about tinnitus.
2004 – Thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous donor ATA creates The FDL Tinnitus Assistance Fund to financially assist in-need tinnitus patients with hearing evaluations and treatments.
2005 – ATA develops the Roadmap to a Cure, an innovative guide that identifies what researchers now know about tinnitus and what information is needed to develop a cure.
2007 – ATA adopts a more focused mission to fund resources to advance research that will lead to a tinnitus cure.
2008 – Awards a record high $595,462 in annual research grants.
2009 - Tinnitus becomes the leading service-connected disability for veterans from all periods of service helping to raise the urgency for tinnitus solutions.
2010 – The first ATA Walk to Silence Tinnitus is held in Portland. This event goes on to become an annual tradition, raising valuable resources for tinnitus research and support programs.
2010 – ATA’s historical aggregate research allocations exceed $5 million.
2011 – ATA celebrates its 40th Anniversary.
2012 - ATA's advocacy work exponentially increases tinnitus research funding by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs.
2013 - ATA appears on an expert panel on the McCuistion program to discuss the latest advances in tinnits research and treatment.
2015 – ATA launches an organizational rebrand, plus a new, patient-focused association website, with expanded information.
