Genes behind ringing in the ears and hearing loss
Official title: Genetic Architecture of Tinnitus and its Relationship to Hearing Loss
Funded at VA San Diego Healthcare System · NIH-11131057 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for genetic differences that may explain why some people, especially veterans, develop tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA San Diego Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005920-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131057 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are people, particularly veterans, with chronic tinnitus or hearing loss who can share their medical records and genetic information.
✕Less likely to help
People without tinnitus or hearing loss, or those seeking an immediate treatment, may not directly benefit because this is genetic discovery work rather than a treatment trial.
What this research studies
Researchers are comparing genetic data and medical records from a large, diverse group of people, with an emphasis on veterans, to find DNA differences linked to tinnitus and hearing loss. They will use stricter clinical definitions of tinnitus such as disability ratings and diagnoses, plus objective hearing tests rather than only self-reported symptoms. The team will expand their dataset across ages, ancestry groups, and noise-exposure histories to separate genetic effects from damage caused by loud noise. Their goal is to map the genomic regions and biological pathways that differ between people with tinnitus and those with hearing loss alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to biological targets for new treatments, improve diagnosis, and help identify people at higher risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large genetic studies have already found some risk variants for tinnitus, and this project builds on that work using larger and more clinically detailed datasets.
Where this research is happening
-
VA San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nievergelt, Caroline M — VA San Diego Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Nievergelt, Caroline M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding why age-related hearing loss and tinnitus happen in diverse groups
A study aims to find genetic reasons behind age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in African ancestry and Latino populations.
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Understanding age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in diverse communities
This project looks for genetic changes linked to age-related hearing loss and ringing in the ears using large whole-genome datasets, focusing especially on people of African and Latino backgrounds.
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Understanding the genetics of tinnitus and its link to hearing loss
This study is looking at how our genes might play a role in tinnitus and hearing loss, especially in veterans, by examining a lot of different data to find out what specific genetic traits are linked to these issues.
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Understanding how stress and arousal relate to tinnitus using eye and skin signals
Researchers will test whether easy-to-measure signals like pupil size and skin conductance can reflect how distressing tinnitus feels in adults, especially Veterans.
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Noise-related hearing loss and its link to Alzheimer's progression
Researchers are looking at whether hearing damage from loud noise speeds memory loss and dementia in people at risk for Alzheimer's.
-
Audiological rehabilitation for children with unilateral hearing loss
A research project aims to help children who hear with one ear by testing ways to improve their hearing and communication through targeted audiology interventions.
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.