Understanding how children hear in noisy indoor environments
DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL SPATIAL HEARING IN REVERBERATION
This study looks at how kids aged 6 to 18 hear sounds in echoey classrooms, helping us understand how this affects their ability to communicate and learn, so we can improve hearing devices for those who need them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Father Flanagan's Boys' Home NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boys Town, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10874779 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how children aged 6 to 18 perceive sounds in reverberant indoor spaces, which can distort auditory cues essential for effective communication and learning. By using auditory virtual reality, the study simulates realistic classroom environments to assess how reverberation affects spatial hearing abilities. The goal is to identify developmental patterns in spatial hearing among children with normal hearing, which can inform better fitting outcomes for hearing devices in children with hearing loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 6 to 18 years who have normal hearing.
Not a fit: Children with significant hearing loss or those who do not fall within the specified age range may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved auditory environments for children, enhancing their learning and social interactions.
How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using auditory virtual reality is innovative, similar studies have shown success in understanding auditory perception in different contexts.
Where this research is happening
Boys Town, United States
- Father Flanagan's Boys' Home — Boys Town, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peng, Zhao Ellen — Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
- Study coordinator: Peng, Zhao Ellen
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.