Why some adults get tinnitus, sound sensitivity, or trouble hearing in noisy places
Official title: Maladaptive central plasticity and suprathreshold hearing disorders in humans with sensorineural hearing loss and their relation to biomarkers of cochlear synaptopathy
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11158999 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will link ear-nerve damage and the brain's overreaction to explain tinnitus, sound sensitivity, and difficulty hearing in background noise in adults with sensorineural hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 2, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $578,395 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DC015857-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158999 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with sensorineural hearing loss, a history of noise exposure or aging, and symptoms such as tinnitus, hyperacusis, or trouble hearing in noisy places would be the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
People with normal hearing, pure conductive hearing loss, or no symptoms of tinnitus or sound sensitivity are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you join, you may have hearing tests, questionnaires about tinnitus and loudness, and noninvasive brain and ear measurements to look for signs of nerve loss and brain over-activity. The team combines human testing with biomarkers of cochlear synaptopathy and insights from animal and lab work to connect ear damage to changes in the brain. Tests may include auditory brainstem responses, behavioral listening tasks in noise, and possibly biological samples tied to cochlear nerve health. The goal is to pinpoint measurable signs that explain why some people hear phantom sounds or find everyday sounds unbearably loud.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help create better tests to identify the cause of tinnitus and sound sensitivity and point toward treatments that calm the brain's overreaction.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies and a growing number of human studies support the idea that cochlear nerve loss can drive brain hyperactivity, but translating these findings into clear clinical tests and treatments is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Polley, Daniel B. — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Polley, Daniel B.
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.
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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.