# Project 1 - Research Audiology, Speech Perception, and Psychoacoustics

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2020 · $381,293

## Abstract

Project 1
ABSTRACT
Our long-term goal is to ameliorate the debilitating consequences of age-related hearing loss (ARHL;
presbycusis) that are known to impact nearly 70% percent of Americans over the age of 70. ARHL interferes
with effective communication by reducing the audibility of sounds, and degrading the intelligibility of speech in
quiet and noisy backgrounds. The overall objective of this research is to identify and understand effective
methods for modulating ARHL. The central hypothesis of this is that targeted therapeutic interventions will
induce plasticity within the peripheral and central auditory system, altering the function of complex gain
mechanisms, leading to amelioration of chronic deficits that define presbycusis. This pioneering research uses
innovative catalysts to induce functional changes in the aging auditory system. We will leverage cross-project
comparative methods to identify the perceptual, neurophysiological, and molecular bases of the resulting
peripheral and central auditory plasticity. Aim 1 focuses on the potential to use hormone (aldosterone)
supplementation to improve peripheral and central auditory function. Aims 2 and 3 test a series of hypotheses
that establish the nature and magnitude of neural plasticity in older adults induced by augmented acoustic
environments (AAE). Targeted ARHL deficits include loudness growth, temporal processing, and speech in
noise processing. A combination of behavioral and electrophysiological measures and a combination of
longitudinal and cross-sectional designs will serve as the basis for the broader comparative research of this
proposal. The comprehensive framework proposed here is the first to our knowledge combining basic and
applied methods to address central auditory plasticity and the amelioration of AHRL in a manner that allows
rapid translation of findings to clinical practice – the foremost goal of NIA and NIH at large.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9868867
- **Project number:** 5P01AG009524-25
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** David A. Eddins
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $381,293
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9868867

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9868867, Project 1 - Research Audiology, Speech Perception, and Psychoacoustics (5P01AG009524-25). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9868867. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*