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Neuro-feedback For Improved Efficacy Of Retinal Prostheses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,655.00
Summary
Bionic eyes offer the possibility to return sight to the blind. Existing retinal implants are effective at delivering basic visual percepts, namely brief spots of light. Our team is now working on building the second generation of bionic eyes that include the ability to both stimulate the visual system (the retina) and record its response. By recording the evoked responses, we can adjust and optimize the stimulation to restore a persistent high spatial resolution sense of vision to the blind.
Young Adult Myopia: Genetic And Environmental Associations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$809,271.00
Summary
Myopia affects 80% of school leavers in the cities of East Asia, 45% of Asian Australian school leavers and is probably on the rise in European Australian adolescents. Increased levels of education and lack of time outdoors are known to increase the risk of myopia. We will examine 2,000 young adults to find the genes that interact with these risk factors. In addition to confirming when these risk factors are most important, identifying molecular pathways opens the avenue of new treatments.
This project will provide comprehensive nationally-representative data on the issue of hearing loss at work. We will undertake a large national survey to determine how many Australians are exposed to noise and ototoxic chemicals in the workplace and will use these data to estimate the future burden of work-related hearing loss. We will also estimate how changes in the use of noise control measures could alter the burden and the costs.
A System For Measurement Of Vision-specific Quality Of Life Using Item Banking And Computer Adaptive Testing (ViSBank)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$831,155.00
Summary
When evaluating medical treatments, it is important to consider all effects from the patient’s perspective; their quality of life. This project utilises new technology to develop an adaptable, computerised, internet-based system to measure the effects of eye diseases and their treatments on patients’ quality of life. This system will provide for more accurate, precise and efficient measurement than existing methods.
Early Indicators Of Noise Injury: Are Decreased Auditory Processing Skills Evident In Noise-exposed Adults Prior To Diagnosis Of Hearing Loss?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$367,605.00
Summary
Recent research indicates that noise-exposed individuals with similar hearing thresholds to non-noise exposed counterparts are more likely to have diminished temporal and spectral auditory processing abilities. This research aims to determine the relationship between noise exposure levels and auditory processing difficulties; the influence of musical training in ameliorating these difficulties; and a neurological model of causation, operation and possible remediation of these difficulties.
Occupational Hearing Loss Induced By Solvents And Noise: Development Of New Strategies For Hearing Loss Prevention Programs In The Workplace
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,088.00
Summary
There are no guidelines on how to prevent and monitor the effects of solvents on hearing. There is an urgent need of an audiological test battery capable of detecting early signs of occupational solvent-induced hearing loss (OSIHL). It is the aim of this research to a) investigate the influence of solvent and noise exposure on the function of the auditory system, and b) determine the tests with the highest discriminatory power to detect early signs of OSIHL that can be used in the workplace.
Cochlear Type II Neurons In Contralateral Suppression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,434.00
Summary
Sound in one ear affects hearing in the other ear. This contralateral suppression is important for hearing attention and protection from noise damage. We will test the hypothesis that cochlear type II sensory neurons provide the sensory input for this process using models where neuronal development is altered, or the neurons are removed. The study addresses hearing disability in society, facilitating cochlear prosthesis development and the understanding of hearing loss.
Studies Of The Effects Of Asymmetric Hearing Loss On The Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$920,076.00
Summary
Hearing loss impairs the normal development and maintenance of auditory pathways. Irreversible pathologies persist when hearing is not restored in a timely manner. While cochlear implantation is the accepted treatment for profound sensorineural hearing loss, there is significant variability in outcomes. Some of this variability is linked to the degree of hearing asymmetry. Thus, we propose to study brain changes in the auditory system that accompany asymmetric hearing impairment.
Intrinsic Hearing Protection Mechanisms: A Pathway To Prevention Of Noise-induced Hearing Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$625,900.00
Summary
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant contributor to the total burden of disease. We recently determined that when the ear is exposed to sustained noise, the cochlea is protected from damage by activation of a specific (P2X2) receptor, evident as reversible hearing adaptation. This study will determine the downstream signalling from this receptor. This will support assessment of vulnerability to NIHL and contribute to development of hearing therapeutics.
Optimising Balance Function In Vestibular Schwannoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,817.00
Summary
This project examines human balance function in subjects with vestibular Schwannoma, a slow growing tumor that presents with hearing loss and imbalance. We will measure inner ear balance function using 2 new non invasive tests called the video head impulse and the vestibular evoked myogenic potential. We will seek test parameters that predict tumor growth, explore reasons for post surgical imbalance, develop and validate home-based rehabilitation methods to optimise balance after surgery.