How noise and blasts change hearing signals from the ear to the brain
Signal Processing Along the Auditory Pathway: Changes Following Noise Exposure
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · NIH-11276829
This project compares ear and brain hearing signals in people with noise- or blast-related hearing loss to help tell whether damage is in the inner ear or the hearing nerve.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LONG BEACH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11276829 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, researchers will record standard clinic measures of ear function (sounds produced by the cochlea) and brain responses to sounds to see how signals change after noise or blast exposure. They will combine those recordings with advanced imaging and laboratory work to map how ear structures and nerve pathways contribute to hearing problems. Some of the advanced imaging (cochlear OCT) is currently done in animals or labs, so the team will use the clinic tests to build a picture that could apply to people. The goal is to separate sensory (cochlear) damage from neural (retro-cochlear) damage so clinicians can better target care and rehabilitation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with sensorineural hearing loss following noise or blast exposure, such as military personnel or veterans, who can attend clinic visits and complete noninvasive hearing tests.
Not a fit: People with purely conductive (middle-ear) hearing loss, those who cannot undergo standard hearing tests, or those seeking an immediate cure are unlikely to benefit directly from this diagnostic-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to clearer diagnosis of the cause of sensorineural hearing loss and more targeted treatment or rehabilitation for people with noise- or blast-related hearing damage.
How similar studies have performed: Standard measures like otoacoustic emissions and cortical frequency-following responses are already used in clinics, but combining them to distinguish cochlear versus neural damage is relatively new and cochlear OCT imaging remains largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
LONG BEACH, UNITED STATES
- VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION — LONG BEACH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: DONG, WEI — VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- Study coordinator: DONG, WEI
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.