# National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research

> **NIH VA I50** · PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · —

## Abstract

The Center model employed by the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) uses
core funding to provide infrastructure that supports core investigators, who then leverage this support to garner
external peer-reviewed funding, and to support education/outreach activities. Research is planned in the areas
of Diagnosis and Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Prevention of auditory and balance dysfunction in Veterans.
Education/outreach programs will include biennial conferences, a monthly seminar series, NIH-funded T-35
audiology student research training, and year-long externships for 4th year Au.D. students in collaboration with
the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) Audiology Service. Technology-wise, further development
is planned for NCRAR's OtoID, a patent-pending high-frequency portable audiometer, and for an upgrade to a
recently patented Tinnitus Evaluation System, which will be used in a study to standardize tinnitus evaluation.
Some examples of studies planned in each of our key research areas are:
 Diagnosis and Assessment 1) standardization of assessment for tinnitus and hyperacusis; 2) continued
development of wideband auditory assessment tools for the clinical evaluation of hearing in Veterans; 3)
clinical assessment of central auditory deficits resulting from blast exposure, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and
their interaction with post-traumatic stress disorder; 4) new physiologic and behavioral methods to identify
“hidden hearing loss” resulting from excessive noise exposure; 5) effects of aging and TBI on dynamic gait
control and balance dysfunction; 6) a longitudinal study of auditory dysfunction in Veterans with diabetes to
understand the long-term effects of diabetes on the auditory system; and 7) use of behavioral methods to
assess the effects of imprecise temporal processing and reduced frequency selectivity associated with
sensorineural hearing loss, and the use of auditory evoked potentials to explore the effects of aging and
hearing loss on speech perception in noise.
 Rehabilitation 1) refinement of Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) as an interdisciplinary, stepped-
care program that combines acoustic therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. In collaboration with Health
Services Research and Development (HSR&D) and researchers at the VAPORHCS, PTM will be readied for
implementation throughout VA; 2) a multi-center clinical trial of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
(rTMS) for the relief of tinnitus, along with efforts to identify best methods for magnet placement; 3) continued
research on hearing-aid orientation and use of motivational interviewing to improve hearing aid outcome; 4)
studies on hearing health behaviors to increase hearing health care uptake and successful rehabilitation; 5)
balance rehabilitation using auditory feedback, and targeted therapy for balance disorders based on identified
sensory and/or motor deficits in patients with TBI; and 6) use of neuroimaging methods t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10043832
- **Project number:** 5I50RX002361-04
- **Recipient organization:** PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Martin Patrick Feeney
- **Activity code:** I50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-10-01 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10043832

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10043832, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (5I50RX002361-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10043832. Licensed CC0.

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