Past Grant Recipients by Year
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2009/2010 Grant Recipients
Preventing Chemically-induced Hearing Loss
Researcher: Melissa Vollrath, PhD, Assistant Professor, Neurology
Institution: McGill University, Montreal
Project: Determining the Role of TRP Ion Channels in Hair Cell Ototoxicity
The death of inner ear hair cells is a leading cause of hearing loss and inner ear dysfunction. Aging, noise and certain drug therapies (e.g. high doses of antibiotics, chemotherapy) can cause hair cell death. The production of free radicals in the ear has been shown to cause hair cell death in all of these cases. Currently many labs are evaluating the role of antioxidants for their ability to protect hair cells from the free radicals, but as yet, the mechanisms that trigger hair cell death are not well understood.
Having recently identified TRPM2, a protein that triggers cell death in other cells of the body and is also present at high levels in hair cells, this research will determine if this protein also triggers cell death in hair cells. If this is true, the researcher will then try to block this protein and reduce its effect on the inner ear hair cells. The impact of this study could be dramatic, potentially leading to new ways to prevent hair cell death, thereby preventing the loss of hearing and inner ear function.
Helping Children with Hearing Loss
Lead Researcher: Susan Stanton, PhD
Institution: The University of Western Ontario - National Centre
for Audiology, London
Co-researcher: Tracey Stockley, PhD, Associate Director
Institution: Molecular Genetics Laboratory, The Hospital for
Sick Children, Toronto
Project: Auditory Neuropathy Dys-synchrony Spectrum (AN) and Auditory Processing Disorders (APD): Using Molecular Analysis to Define the Phenotype
Listening difficulties, especially hearing speech in noisy environments, is a common problem for children suffering from two hearing loss conditions, auditory neuropathy dys-synchrony (AN) and auditory processing disorders (APD). There are features common to both AN and APD and although little is known about the cause of these disorders, three different genes have been identified for hereditary AN. This study will investigate whether mutations in these genes affect the ear, auditory nerve and brain. It will also help determine if these mutations cause similar listening problems in children with AN or APD. Results from this study will help understand the similarities and differences between these two types of listening difficulties and will ultimately allow clinicians to help identify and treat children with these conditions.
Improving our Ability to Adjust to Hearing Assistive Devices
Researcher: Han C. Drindenberg, PhD
Institution: Queen’s University, Department of Psychology, Kingston
Project: Reinstatement of Juvenile-like Synaptic Plasticity in the Mature Auditory Cortex: Implications for the Treatment of Hearing Loss in Adulthood and Advanced Age
An estimated 300,000 Canadians are profoundly deaf. A Cochlear implant is a specialized device that allows the restoration of auditory function – allowing profoundly deaf Canadians to once again understand music, voices and other sounds. These implants are more successful in younger patients because younger, more ‘elastic’ brains are more readily able to adjust to changes in their environment. This research will quantify this ability to adjust to hearing loss at different age groups and then test non-invasive ways of reactivating this ability in older subjects. The results from this study may lead to new techniques to allow older patients to adjust more easily to cochlear implants, thereby expanding the success of cochlear implants in this age group.
Improving Ability to Understand Sounds
Researcher: Michael Sasha John, PhD
Institute: Rotman Research Institute
Co-researchers: Andrew Dimitrijevic, University of California Irvine; David Purcell, The University of Western Ontario, London
Project: Neurophysiological Modulation Transfer Functions of Auditory Neuropathy Patients
People with Auditory Neuropathy (AN) have a healthy cochlea (the part of the ear that is responsible for converting sound waves into electrical impulses that allow our brain to understand sounds), but their brain does not process or synchronize the sounds correctly, which affects their ability to make sense of speech and language. This research will study the responses of the brains of these patients to changing rates of sound, compared to people with normal hearing. Results from this study will help audiologists to determine the best possible treatment for people suffering with this type of hearing loss.
Repairing and Regrowing Inner Ear Sensory Cells
Researcher: Dr. Vincent Lin, PhD, MD, FRCSC
Institute: The Centre for Inner Ear Restoration at Sunnybrook
Health Sciences Centre, Toronto
Project: Inner Ear Restoration Project
Currently, in people, damage to delicate hair cells of the inner ear is irreparable, resulting in permanent, life-long hearing loss. Dr. Lin, along with other international researchers have discovered that birds, unlike people, have the capacity to regenerate inner ear hair cells, allowing for the complete restoration of hearing. Their work has led to the discovery of a particular protein that causes spontaneous hair cell regeneration in birds. It is believed that inner ear hair cell regeneration may be possible in people and they continue to investigate the proper combination of gene therapy and medication that could regenerate and restore hearing to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians with this type of hearing loss.
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2008 Grant Recipients - Grants not provided in 2008
2006/2007 Grant Recipients
Improving Our Understanding of Genetic Deafness
Researcher: Tracey Stockley, PhD, FCCMG et al.
Institution: The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of
Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Toronto
Project: Investigation of GJB2 gene expression in childhood deafness.
In half of children who are deaf at birth, the cause of the deafness is genetic. The most common genetic cause of deafness is two abnormal changes in the connexin 26 gene. It was previously identified that many deaf children have only one abnormal change in the connexin 26 gene instead of two. The research tested 50 deaf children with one abnormal change to see if these patients had a new second type of abnormal change not found by previous genetic tests. This study provided a better understanding of genetic deafness and in doing so, may lead to improved treatments for deafness.
Gaining New Insights About Lipreading For Listening and Reading
Researcher: Bernhard Ross, PhD
Institution: Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto
Project: Auditory cortex activation indicating audiovisual integration during listening and reading speakers’ lips
In face-to-face communication, we understand better if we can see the speaker's lips moving. This study investigated the effects of lipreading on auditory evoked and oscillatory cortical activity with whole head magneto-encephalography (MEG). The intent of this is to develop and improve the methods for recording physiological correlates of speech understanding, leading to an objective tool for assessing functional changes during audiovisual training programs. This may also help the hearing impaired who experience problems following a conversation when they are in a noisy environment.
Measuring Hearing Thresholds in Newborns and Infants
with Greater Accuracy
Researcher: André M. Marcoux, PhD, et al.
Institution: University of Ottawa, Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology
Project: Maturation of auditory sensitivity related to electrophysiological hearing threshold measurements during infancy
Current methods to obtain hearing thresholds in newborns and infants do not take into account the maturation of the young auditory system. These methods could lead to failure in identifying children with mild levels of hearing loss, who could be at risk for academic difficulties later in life. They could also lead to providing inappropriate amplification levels to infants with hearing impairments. The purpose of this study is to attempt to quantify this maturational effect during the first six months of life and provide corrections in order to reveal accurate hearing threshold values, at discrete periods of time during infancy.
Enhancing Clinical Tests for Newborns
Researcher: David W. Purcell, PhD
Institution: The University of Western Ontario, National Centre for Audiology, London
Project: Contra-lateral suppression of distortion product otoacoustic emissions
The human ear produces quiet sounds, called otoacoustic emissions,
that can be recorded in the ear canal with a sensitive microphone. This has
been taken advantage of in a clinical test of the hearing of newborns. The
current test is however, unable to tell whether there may be a problem in the
brainstem above the inner ear. This study is designed to investigate the possibility of testing
the neural connections between ears by providing noise to the opposite ear. If
the response can be made to change reliably, then the measurement might be
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2005 Research Awards
Insights into Descending Auditory Pathways that Help Block Out
Unwanted Sounds
Researcher: Huiming Zhang
Institution: Carleton University, Ottawa
Project: Corticocollicular projections and associated neurotransmitter receptors: Implications for central auditory processing disorders
Listening to a sound (e.g. a voice or music) requires an active process in which we can focus on a sound of interest and exclude other distracting signals. Thus, hearing involves not only sending sound information from the ears to the central brain (in what we call the ascending pathways), but also the central brain controlling or “gating” what gets through to the highest levels. These gating mechanisms are accomplished, in part, by descending auditory pathways in the brain. This project studies certain aspects of this important pathway and in particular, the mechanisms by which nerve cells in the system transmit signals.
Exploring Adaptation to Cochlear Implants or “Artificial Ears”
Researcher: Steven G. Lomber, PhD
Institution: The University of Western Ontario, London
Project: Maximizing the benefit of cochlear implant: Is earlier always better, or is there an optimal period?
Cochlear implants are new types of hearing aids that can benefit patients who have severe or profound hearing loss. This project concerns the areas of the brain which deal with auditory processing and looks into how such areas can adapt or develop processing ability when sound is presented through a cochlear implant device. This study is an exploration of the way in which the auditory areas of the cortex (the highest auditory areas in the brain) can represent or be activated by the electrical signals that are sent through a cochlear implant. The work will help us develop a new generation of cochlear implants, which may provide greater benefit than those presently used.
Examining Auditory Processing in the Aging Brain
Researcher: Claude Alain, PhD
Institution: Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for
Geriatric Care, Toronto
Project: Neuro-anatomical correlates of age-related changes in central auditory processing
When we hear sounds (e.g. voices or music, street sounds) we do so together with other sensory inputs, in particular, vision. Being aware of an environment involves the integration of information from all the senses. As the brain ages, the ability to integrate these various stimuli can deteriorate. The ability of central auditory areas to identify and process sound information is reduced. One way of investigating the brain and its aging process is to use new brain imaging methods. This project will explore how the nerve cells in the brain change function with age. A further understanding of what happens to auditory processing in the aging brain will be useful in the prevention of hearing loss or in habilitation programs for the elderly.
Identifying Sound Localization Challenges in Hearing Impaired Children
Researcher: Susan D. Scollie, PhD
Institution: The University of Western Ontario, London
Project: Sound localization and discrimination abilities of hearing impaired children
In addition to its ability to hear sounds and identify them, the auditory system can also determine where the sound originates from. Sound localization is very important. For example, when we are talking to somebody in a noisy room, the ability to localize the source of sound helps to make that particular voice clear. This aspect of hearing has been largely ignored in the assessment of hearing loss in subjects. In this project, the ability of children with various types of hearing loss to localize sound is being assessed. This work is very important in determining what deficits in sound localization might exist, and the information may be useful in providing habilitation for children with hearing loss. It may also aid in the design of new hearing aids that can provide better sound localization.
Learning How Nerve Cells Communicate During Early Development
Researcher: Shu Hui Wu, MD
Institution: Carleton University, Ottawa
Project: The effects of hearing loss on biophysical properties and synaptic transmission of neurons in the auditory midbrain
The brain pathways that transmit sound information from the ears to the central parts of the brain undergo an early developmental phase during which many things can interfere with or change normal development. One of the important transmission areas en-route is the midbrain region. In this study, the way in which nerve cells transmit information in the midbrain region is being investigated. The researchers wanted to determine whether there are particular changes to the way in which nerve cells communicate during early developmental periods. The work will demonstrate not only more about how the normal auditory brain system develops, but also what sort of deficiencies can arise because of hearing loss at an early age.
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2004 Research Awards
Enhancing Infant Hearing Tests
Researcher: Terence Picton, PhD
Institution: Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto
Project: The effects of stimulus rates on the human auditory steady-state response
Newborn hearing screening programs indicate whether or not a hearing loss is present. To plan effective treatment, the amount of loss at particular frequencies and the amount of compensatory amplification required must be determined. The development of new techniques using the multiple auditory steady-state evoked response to measure temporal modulation transfer functions is proposed. This study also aims to establish age norms for optimum stimulus modulation rates and to improve the efficacy and accuracy of infant hearing tests.
Identifying Normal and Diseased Middle Ear Properties in Newborns –
to Improve Detection and Treatment
Researchers: Navid Shahnaz, PhD; and Co-investigator: David Stapells, PhD
Institution: University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Project: Investigating the mechano-acoustical properties of normal and diseased middle ear in newborns
Otitis media is the most common childhood illness globally. If undiagnosed, it can affect general health, as well as speech and language development. Current infant screening protocols do not distinguish conductive from sensorineural loss. The study proposes to define the mechano-acoustic properties of middle-ear structures in normal and diseased newborns, and to develop diagnostic procedures. It also hopes to provide guidelines for developing effective and non-invasive procedures to detect middle ear infection in newborns, leading to improved treatment protocols.
Exploring the Role of Neural Mechanisms in Auditory Learning
Researcher: Jun Yan, MD
Institution: University of Calgary, Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Project: Neural mechanisms of learning-induced auditory plasticity: The role of cortical acetylcholine and corticofugal modulation
The ability of neural pathways in the cortex to re-form (examining the role of plasticity) is fundamental to auditory learning. The study examines the role of the cortical cholinergic system and corticofugal projections in auditory learning induced plasticity by mapping changes to the frequency tuning of cortical and midbrain neurons to electrical stimulation of forebrain paired with tonal stimuli. The intent is to increase understanding of the neural mechanisms of auditory learning.
Understanding Stroke-Induced Central Auditory Processing Disorders
Researcher: Jack Kelly, PhD
Institution: Department of psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa
Project: Auditory temporal processing disorders
Cerebral damage associated with stroke can result in central auditory processing disorders. The effect of stroke on behavioural test outcomes of auditory discrimination tasks requiring fine temporal processing (speech perception, recognition of complex sounds, ability to hear sounds in a noisy environment) is examined with the goal to increase understanding of central processing disorders that can disrupt speech perception.
Identifying Optimal Parameters for Maximizing Energy Transmission
Researchers Manohar Bance, MSc, FRCS(C), Rene van Wijhe
Institution: Dalhousie University, Department of Surgery, Halifax
Project: Stapes piston parameters affecting acoustic energy transmission into the inner ear in a cadaveric human middle ear model
Some middle ear diseases can “fix” the stapes, preventing sound transmission to the inner ear. Stapedotomy surgery bypasses the non-functional pathway with a piston prosthesis. This study researched piston parameters that affect acoustic energy transmission (in particular, diameter and mass). The goal of this study was to determine the optimal parameters with which to maximize energy transmission. It also included a comparison of the effectiveness of commercially available prostheses.
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2003 Research Awards
Developing a Test for Tinnitus By Studying Brain Wave Activity
Researcher: Dietrich Schwarz , MD
Institution: University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Project: An EEG Test for Tinnitus
Patients with hearing loss often suffer from severe ringing in the ears (tinnitus), which may be worse than deafness itself. Doctors have no method for an objective assessment of tinnitus and are, therefore, unable to monitor, objectively, the success of an attempted therapy. In fact, there is no generally accepted therapy. The intent of this study is to develop an objective diagnostic test for tinnitus because we know that the brain produces electrical oscillations (brain waves) whenever a sound is perceived. The study will analyze the electrical brain waves produced by tinnitus itself and determine how they change electrical responses of the brain to normal sounds. The aim is to develop an electrical brain wave signature of tinnitus that can be used to measure this disturbing sensation, and to assess the effect that a treatment (e.g. a new drug), may have.
Exploring Timing and Delays for the Ear and the Brain to Process Sound
Researchers: David W. Purcell, PhD and Terence Picton, PhD
Institution: Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto
Project: Estimating Processing Delays in the Human Auditory System
This research study investigates how the ear and brain hear sound. By playing sounds to a listener, the researchers can measure the ear's response to that sound using a small microphone placed in the ear canal. They can also record the brain's response to the same sound using sensors placed on the scalp. By combining these two types of measurements, they can calculate how long it takes the ear and brain to process sound. This will help us understand normal hearing, and improve our ability to recognize and treat hearing problems.
Assessing the Impact of Aging on Sound Perception
Researchers: Claude Alain, PhD and Bruce Schneider, PhD
Institution: Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto
Project: Aging and the Perceptual Separation of Sounds in the Human Auditory Cortex
This research program will record the electrical brain activity that is generated when we listen to sounds. The goal is to relate a participant's perception of sounds with specific patterns of brain activity and to assess the effects of age on sound perception. These recordings will help us to understand how we perceive auditory events such as speech perception, and whether the brain is differently active in younger and older adults. Improvement in diagnosis, rehabilitation techniques, and hearing aids can be made by learning what cues are most important and salient for older adults when confronted with complex auditory scenes.
Understanding the Positive and Negative Affects of Stress-Generated Cortisol on Hearing
Researchers: Sylvie Hébert, PhD and Sonia Lupien, PhD
Institution: Université de Montréal
Project: The role of Cortisol in Normal and Pathological Audition, with a Special Attention to Tinnitus
Cortisol is a hormone that is naturally secreted by the body in response to stress. Long-term effects of abnormally high levels of cortisol are damaging and associated with disease. Past research has demonstrated the involvement of cortisol in audition. This project aims to gain a better understanding of the role of cortisol in audition by integrating both normal and pathological aspects of audition (in particular, hearing loss and tinnitus) into a single, coherent framework.
Finding the Links Between Impaired Auditory Temporal Processing and Developmental Language Delay
Researchers: David Brown, PhD and Dennis Phillips, PhD
Institution: University of Calgary and Dalhousie University, Halifax
Project: Auditory Temporal Processing Disorders in Developmental
Language Delay
The researchers' broad, long-term goal is to aid in the remediation of children who have central auditory processing problems that are linked to developmental language delay. Until recently, children with developmental language delay were thought to have an isolated disorder specifically of language processing. It has now become clear that many of these children also have some kind of impairment in the perception of sounds in which the timing of acoustic events is important. There is, however, much debate over the generality of this association and over the question of whether the auditory temporal processing problem is causally related to language delay. The challenge is that both auditory temporal processing and developmental language delay are umbrella terms, making it difficult to know whether the same kinds of children are being studied, or whether the same temporal processes are being explored, in current research. The purpose of this study is to resolve this issue by carefully studying performance on a broad range of auditory temporal processing tasks by a broad range of children with learning disabilities. This will enable us to determine which kinds of language-learning impairment have correlates in impaired auditory processing, and which kinds of auditory temporal processing operations are impaired.
Addressing Sensorineural Hearing Loss By Assessing the Role of GABA Receptors in Auditory Processing
Researcher: Shu Hui Wu, MD
Institution: Carleton University, Ottawa
Project: The role of GABA Receptors in Auditory Processing
A better understanding of the synaptic physiology and pharmacology of the central auditory system will lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders of central origin. During the last few decades, the great progress in dealing with peripheral hearing loss is due largely to advances in understanding the cochlea and its function. Similar advances in understanding the role of the central nervous system in processing auditory information will provide solutions to problems associated with sensorineural hearing disorders. The proposed research will contribute to this effort by providing a basic understanding of the physiological role of GABA receptors in the central auditory system. The outcome of the proposed research will be to improve our understanding of the neuronal mechanisms of auditory information processing, and suggest guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss.
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2002 Research Awards
Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to Monitor Changes to Hearing-Focused Brain Areas During Habilitation Therapies or While Wearing a Hearing Aid
Researcher: Jos Eggermont, PhD
Institution: University of Calgary
Project: Auditory cortical plasticity following profound unilateral deafness as shown by evoked potentials and functional MRI
To use brain imaging techniques (MRI) in subjects with hearing loss and to follow the changes to the brain areas associated with hearing, while using hearing aids or during various habilitation therapies.
Using Brain Recording Techniques to Explore Auditory Areas Involved
in Hearing Tasks
Researcher: Claude Alain, PhD
Institution: University of Toronto
Project: Auditory temporal processing: an event-related brain potential study
Using brain recording techniques including MEG, this project will explore the auditory areas involved in both simple and complex hearing tasks, such as speech understanding.
Learning How Chemical Messengers Mediate the Transmission of Information Between Auditory Brain Cells
Researcher: Jack Kelly, PhD
Institution: Carleton University, Ottawa
Project: Synaptic Regulation of Auditory Responses
This is a basic science project, which explores the way in which various chemical messengers mediate the transmission of information between brain cells in the auditory areas of the brain.
Evaluating a Novel Method for Detecting Hearing Loss
in Very Young Children
Researcher: David Brown, PhD
Institution: University of Calgary
Project: A comparison of pure tone thresholds obtained with steady-state evoked potentials and standard audiometry
The project comprises the evaluation of a novel method (SSEP) for accurate diagnosis of hearing loss in very young children in a later part of the screening process.
Assessing the Link Between Hearing Loss in Children and
an Inability to Keep Sound Element Sequences Ordered
Researcher: Benoit Jutras, PhD
Institution: University of Montreal
Project: Auditory sequential organization and hearing loss
The ability to keep sequences of sound elements in proper order is essential for understanding and producing speech. This study will explore the degradation of these processes in children with hearing loss.
Evaluating a New Method for Testing Neonatal Hearing
Researcher: Adrian James, MD
Institution: University of Toronto
Project: Comparison of a novel hearing screening device Vivo 200 DPS and the Ontario screener; the correlation between pass-fail decision and audiogram.
A new method for testing hearing in babies which was developed at the University of Toronto will be compared to current "standard" methods in order to verify its utility for neonatal hearing screening.
Assessing the Economic Impact of Cochlear Implants to Societal and Other Benefits
Researcher: David Shipp
Institution: Sunnybrook & Women's Health Sciences Centre, Toronto
Project: Cost-utility analysis of deaf adults treated with a cochlear implant
In the context of health care economics, the quality of life and societal benefits of cochlear implantation in adults and the associated fiscal impacts on Canadian society will be considered.
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