STAR+ Model for Hearing Diagnostics and Treatment in Rural Appalachian Children
Official title: STAR+ Trial: Expanding Access to Hearing Diagnostics and Treatment for Children in Rural Appalachia
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11453010 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program that uses telehealth to connect rural school children with hearing specialists so they can get timely testing and treatment for hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $824,459 |
| NIH project number | 1U01DC024017-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453010 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 in rural Appalachia who have undergone school-based hearing screening and need follow-up testing or treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Children without detectable or treatable hearing issues or those not engaged with school health programs may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project extends a proven telehealth pathway to ensure not only screening but also diagnostic testing and treatment for kids ages 0-11 in rural Appalachia. It builds on prior trials by adding telehealth diagnostics and treatment to the existing screening approach, aiming to reduce barriers and improve follow-through. The study will be implemented in school settings, connecting school staff with specialists to streamline referrals and care for children who fail screening. Researchers will evaluate how well this STAR+ model works in real-world rural communities and identify ways to sustain access to care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Children in rural Appalachia could receive faster, more complete care for hearing loss, supporting better language, school performance, and long-term outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier STAR trials showed that school-based telehealth can improve access to specialty care for hearing issues; STAR+ aims to extend this with diagnostics and treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Emmett, Susan Davis — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Emmett, Susan Davis
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.