More accurate hearing-loss diagnosis using the ear's own sounds
Advanced Detection and Differential Diagnosis of Hearing Loss Using Otoacoustic Emissions
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11177933
This project uses the faint sounds your inner ear makes (otoacoustic emissions) to better tell different kinds of sensorineural hearing loss apart for people with hearing difficulties.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11177933 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project aims to bring a quick, non-invasive ear test into the clinic that records the faint sounds your inner ear makes in response to sweeping tones. The test captures two types of otoacoustic emissions—distortion-product and stimulus-frequency emissions—to measure different cochlear behaviors. Researchers will combine these measures to create new diagnostic metrics that can distinguish causes of hearing loss that look the same on a standard audiogram. If adopted in clinics, the approach could give clearer answers about why someone is losing hearing and guide more specific care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected sensorineural hearing loss, including normal-hearing individuals and those with mild-to-moderate impairment or unclear causes, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with severe or profound hearing loss (where otoacoustic emissions cannot be recorded) or primarily conductive hearing loss may not receive useful information from this test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors pinpoint the cause of your hearing loss more accurately and inform more tailored treatment or monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown that otoacoustic emissions can distinguish different cochlear problems, but combining DPOAE and SFOAE with sweeping tones for routine clinical differential diagnosis is relatively novel and under clinical translation.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ABDALA, CAROLINA — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: ABDALA, CAROLINA
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.