Faster, frequency-specific hearing tests that play many tones at once
Rapid Acquisition of the Frequency-Specific Auditory Brainstem Response Through Parallel Stimulus Presentation
This project tests a quicker hearing exam that plays many tones to both ears at the same time to get accurate results for infants with suspected hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11224911 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear a set of tones played to both ears at once while small sensors on the head record tiny brain responses called the auditory brainstem response (ABR). The new parallel ABR measures many frequencies simultaneously, cutting test time to about half compared with the traditional one-frequency-at-a-time method. Researchers will compare the parallel method to standard ABR in young infants, including air- and bone-conduction checks used to determine the type and degree of hearing loss. The aim is to obtain reliable hearing thresholds during short infant naps so babies can receive earlier, more accurate guidance about hearing care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are newborns and young infants with suspected hearing loss who can undergo ABR testing, with related validation possibly including older children or adults.
Not a fit: People who have normal hearing and do not need ABR testing, or infants who cannot be safely or comfortably tested (for example, cannot sleep or have medical contraindications), may not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable faster and more accurate hearing diagnoses in infants so interventions like hearing aids or therapy can begin sooner.
How similar studies have performed: A parallel ABR approach has been validated in adults and produced faster, accurate threshold estimates, but validating this method in infants is a new step.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maddox, Ross K — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Maddox, Ross K
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 below.