How the middle ear responds to very loud sounds and protects hearing
Middle Ear Nonlinearity in High Intensity Sound: Impact on Hearing Damage and Protection
['FUNDING_R01'] · MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY · NIH-11295466
Researchers will use donated human ears to learn how the middle ear changes during very loud or impulsive noises to help people at risk of hearing damage.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11295466 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses human cadaver temporal bones to measure how the middle ear transmits extremely loud and impulsive sounds across different frequencies and times. The team will compare normal middle ears with surgically reconstructed ears containing prostheses or grafts to see how they behave at high sound levels. Measurements will quantify nonlinear processes that may reduce or amplify sound reaching the cochlea and identify structural failure modes caused by intense noise. The findings aim to improve prevention strategies and inform better designs and testing for middle-ear reconstructions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most relevant to this work include those exposed to high-level impulsive sounds (e.g., military personnel, industrial workers, some musicians) and patients with conductive hearing loss or prior middle-ear reconstruction.
Not a fit: Patients whose hearing loss is purely sensorineural (inner-ear or nerve-related) and not related to middle-ear mechanics are less likely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better ways to prevent hearing damage from very loud noises and to improved designs and safety standards for middle-ear prostheses and reconstructions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have described middle-ear reflexes and animal models, but systematic quantitative measurements of nonlinear middle-ear transfer in human temporal bones are limited, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHENG, JEFFREY TAO — MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY
- Study coordinator: CHENG, JEFFREY TAO
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.