Creating a tool to diagnose hidden hearing loss in older adults.
Official title: Developing a clinical diagnostic tool for age-related cochlear synaptopathy.
Funded at Gateway Biotechnology, INC. · NIH-10929509 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new tool to help doctors better diagnose a type of hearing issue that makes it hard for older adults to understand speech in noisy places, even if their overall hearing seems fine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Gateway Biotechnology, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (St. Louis, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $482,587 |
| NIH project number | 5R42AG078721-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10929509 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing difficulties in understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal hearing sensitivity and no reported issues with speech understanding in background noise may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new clinical diagnostic tool to identify age-related cochlear synaptopathy, a condition that affects speech understanding in noisy environments without impacting overall hearing sensitivity. The approach involves creating an electrical device that generates calibration pulses to minimize variability in auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements. By utilizing machine learning, the researchers aim to identify specific markers of cochlear synaptopathy in animal models, which will then be applied to human diagnostics. This innovative method seeks to improve the accuracy of diagnosing hidden hearing loss in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of hidden hearing loss, allowing for better management and treatment options for affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using machine learning for diagnosing cochlear synaptopathy is innovative, similar methodologies have shown promise in other areas of auditory research.
Where this research is happening
-
Gateway Biotechnology, INC.
St. Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pinkl, Joseph — Gateway Biotechnology, INC.
- Study coordinator: Pinkl, Joseph
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.