# Next Generation OAEs

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $656,723

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) are grossly underutilized in clinical
applications. Yet the need for early and accurate diagnosis as well as monitoring of new
therapies is growing and will demand more precise diagnostic tools. This proposal lays the
foundation for assimilating advanced DPOAE diagnostics into clinical practice. Specifically, the
first aim will validate the test performance of a new protocol for recording DP-Grams. This
protocol will use frequency-specific stimulus conditions that are matched to local properties of
the cochlea with the goal of better detection of mild-to-moderate hearing loss. The second aim
will utilize DPOAE growth functions to detect early changes in the cochlea due to aging and
differentiate these effects from those induced by over-exposure to noise. The third aim will use
an innovative expansion of DPOAEs to objectively estimate cochlear tuning. The proposal will
create a two-dimensional joint metric of tuning and DPOAE strength, which will help to identify
hearing-related declines beyond mere changes in sensitivity. The proposed work also serves
the critical need to extend the frequency bandwidth of all DPOAE applications to the highest
frequencies of human hearing. This is made possible by incorporating modern calibration and
signal delivery/recording techniques – developed in part by the laboratories of both PIs – into all
experiments. The proposed experiments are built on previous peer-reviewed and published
work from the two participating laboratories. Taken together, the proposed experiments are
critical next steps necessary to move DPOAEs from a screening tool to potent clinical probe that
serves the next generation of diagnostic and monitoring needs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10880934
- **Project number:** 1R01DC020962-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sumitrajit Dhar
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $656,723
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10880934

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10880934, Next Generation OAEs (1R01DC020962-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10880934. Licensed CC0.

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