Hidden nerve damage in the inner ear and how it affects hearing
Cochlear Synaptopathy: Prevalence, Diagnosis and Functional Consequences
Looks for hidden nerve loss in the inner ear that could explain why some people, even with normal hearing tests, struggle to hear in noisy places.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158987 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This center combines lab work and human testing to find signs of cochlear synaptopathy, a form of nerve loss that can be missed on standard hearing tests. Researchers use physiological measures (like brain and ear electrical responses), hearing-behavior tests, and speech-in-noise tasks to detect this hidden damage. They validate the same tests in animals exposed to loud noise or ototoxic drugs so the measures can be tied to underlying nerve loss. The goal is to show how this nerve loss contributes to tinnitus, hyperacusis, and trouble understanding speech in real-world settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who complain of difficulty hearing in background noise, including those whose standard hearing tests appear normal or only mildly affected.
Not a fit: People with purely conductive hearing loss or hearing problems due mainly to outer hair cell damage may not directly benefit from nerve-focused diagnostic tests developed here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce tests that detect hidden nerve damage and guide better diagnosis and tailored treatments for people who struggle to hear in noisy environments.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have clearly shown cochlear synaptopathy and some early human work has begun to translate these findings, but reliable clinical tests are still under development.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kujawa, Sharon G — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Kujawa, Sharon G
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.