Understanding why some people with hearing loss struggle to comprehend speech.
Official title: Physiological determinants of suprathreshold deficits in sensorineural hearing loss
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11104418 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain physical changes in the ear affect how well people with hearing loss, especially those using hearing aids, can understand speech in noisy places, and it hopes to find ways to help improve their listening experience.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | May 2, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $610,725 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC022670-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11104418 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults aged 21 and older who experience sensorineural hearing loss and have difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conductive hearing loss or those who do not experience difficulties in speech comprehension may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the physiological factors that affect speech understanding in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss, particularly those using hearing aids. It aims to identify how damage to hair cells in the cochlea and changes in neural circuits impact the ability to discern speech from background noise. By studying both animal models and human patients, the research seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms that contribute to difficulties in understanding audible speech. The findings could lead to improved strategies for enhancing speech comprehension in noisy environments for those with hearing loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better hearing aids and therapies that significantly improve speech understanding for individuals with hearing loss.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the physiological mechanisms of hearing loss, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bharadwaj, Hari Meenakshisundaram — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Bharadwaj, Hari Meenakshisundaram
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding why phantom sounds and intolerance to sounds happen after hearing loss
This grant investigates why some adults with hearing loss experience tinnitus, hyperacusis, and trouble ignoring background noise, and how brain changes relate to these symptoms.
-
Biomarkers linked to cochlear nerve damage in adults with sensorineural hearing loss
A project to find biological markers of cochlear nerve damage and see how they relate to hearing problems like difficulty hearing in noise and tinnitus in adults with hearing loss.
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Cochlear nerve connections and hearing loss in human temporal bones
A large, patient-facing research effort analyzes how nerve connections in the inner ear deteriorate in people with sensorineural hearing loss by studying post-mortem human temporal bones.
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Cochlear nerve disease and how it affects hearing in models of hearing loss
This grant studies how damage to the nerves of the ear happens and how it affects hearing in noisy places, using animal models to inform future human therapies.
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Sensorineural hearing loss and how it affects understanding speech
This project explores why people with similar hearing loss have different abilities to understand speech, especially in noisy places, and aims to uncover the brain and ear mechanisms behind these differences.
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Understanding why some people with hearing loss can’t understand speech in noise
This grant studies why some people with hearing loss can’t understand speech in noisy environments, even when they can hear it, to identify new ways to help them hear and understand better.
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.