# Auditory physiology in children exposed to the Zika virus

> **NIH NIH R56** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $523,564

## Abstract

Abstract:
Prenatal exposure to the mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) can cause a wide range of neurologic abnormalities
and developmental disabilities. Studies in children with microcephaly due to ZIKV have identified language
delays, but there is a gap in knowledge regarding the state of the auditory system because most evaluations of
auditory function in these populations have been limited to newborn hearing screening and assessment of
peripheral hearing sensitivity. Additionally, a large group of children with prenatal exposure to ZIKV but without
microcephaly has been largely understudied despite the emerging evidence of residual ZIKV effects on
speech/language development in those otherwise asymptomatic cases. Identifying auditory problems that
could impact listening and communication is critical for preparing adequate care plans as the children enter
school. The proposed international research collaboration will focus on filling in these knowledge gaps by
systematically and comprehensively characterizing auditory function and its relationship to communicative
developmental outcomes in children 4-8 years of age with history of prenatal exposure to ZIKV. The following
groups will be studied: (1) children with ZIKV-related microcephaly; (2) children prenatally exposed to ZIKV
without microcephaly; and (3) control subjects matched on age, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES). The
proposed longitudinal study will address three specific aims: Specific Aim 1 will characterize auditory function
in children with microcephaly due to the ZIKV. We hypothesize that, despite normal peripheral hearing test
results, cortical responses will differ from those of age-, sex-, and SES-matched controls. Specific Aim 2 will
characterize auditory function in children exposed to the ZIKV but without microcephaly. We hypothesize that
this group will have altered auditory function, indexed by atypical cortical responses. Specific Aim 3 will
evaluate concurrent and predictive relationships between auditory neural responses and language outcomes in
children with prenatal exposure to ZIKV with and without microcephaly. For all participants, we will acquire
auditory physiologic responses from the middle ear through cortex and measures of speech/language ability at
three time points over 30 months to identify potential indicators related to risk for delays in development of
speech, language, and listening problems. We will also examine how additional risk factors, medical history,
and general neurodevelopment relate to auditory response findings. The proposed work will be accomplished
through a collaboration between scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and researchers in two
states in Brazil who follow some of the largest cohorts of ZIKV-exposed infants in the world. Colleagues in the
US and Brazil will have complementary roles in providing expertise in characterizing physiologic function and
developing clinical applications in this unique and important popula...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10477571
- **Project number:** 1R56DC019113-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** LINDA J. HOOD
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $523,564
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-07 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10477571

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10477571, Auditory physiology in children exposed to the Zika virus (1R56DC019113-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10477571. Licensed CC0.

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