Understanding how mild brain injuries affect hearing and speech in noisy environments
Official title: Effects of Non-Blast mTBI on Binaural Processing and Speech Understanding in Noise
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-10977037 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how mild traumatic brain injuries (like those from sports or accidents) affect people's ability to hear and understand speech in noisy places, and it aims to develop better ways to help those who struggle with these challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2RX003941-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10977037 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of mild traumatic brain injury who experience challenges in understanding speech in noisy environments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a history of mild traumatic brain injury or those who do not experience auditory processing difficulties may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) on the ability to process sounds and understand speech, particularly in noisy settings. It focuses on individuals who have experienced mTBI from various causes, including sports injuries and accidents. By using advanced auditory processing measures, the study aims to identify the specific sensory and cognitive mechanisms that contribute to difficulties in speech understanding. The ultimate goal is to create tailored assessment and rehabilitation tools for those affected by these auditory challenges.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic and treatment options for individuals with auditory difficulties following mild brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that auditory processing deficits are common in individuals with mTBI, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights and improvements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koerner, Tess — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Koerner, Tess
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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.