Improving newborn hearing screening in Kenya using smartphones
Official title: mHealth OAE: Towards Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in Kenya (mTUNE)
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10929468 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating an affordable smartphone tool to help check for hearing loss in newborns in Kenya, making it easier for local health workers to spot any issues early, even in noisy places, so that babies can get the support they need for their growth and development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $163,253 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DC021643-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10929468 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are newborns and infants in Kenya, particularly those born in resource-limited settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than five years or those who do not reside in Kenya may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a low-cost smartphone device to screen newborns for hearing loss in Kenya, where access to traditional screening methods is limited. The project aims to optimize the device for use in various clinical settings and assess its effectiveness in noisy environments. By training local health workers to use this technology, the research seeks to ensure early detection and intervention for hearing loss in infants, which is crucial for their cognitive and social development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier detection and treatment of hearing loss in newborns, significantly improving their developmental outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with similar low-cost screening approaches in other regions, indicating potential for this method to be effective in Kenya.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benki-Nugent, Sarah F. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Benki-Nugent, Sarah F.
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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.