Middle-ear disease is the most common cause of hearing loss. Otologic surgeons repair thousands of middle ears each year with mixed success, especially after severe middle-ear disease. Knowledge of structure-function relationships is crucial to improving reconstructive techniques. Attractive treatments for severe conductive hearing loss include direct mechanical stimulation of the cochlear windows and/or the application of bone-conduction hearing aids. In the past, we developed physiology-based models that relate structure and function in normal, pathological, and reconstructed ears. We focus now on four clinically-relevant structure-function issues using animal models: (1) We investigate the source and functional significance of observed delays in normal and modified middle-ear transmission in cat and chinchilla in the context of middle-ear impedance matching, the efficiency of sound transmission and the high-frequency response of the intact and pathologic middle ear. (2) We quantify the efficacy of direct round- and oval-window stimulation in a live animal model (chinchilla) and use these results to refine a model of cochlear function that accounts for the observed effectiveness of such stimulation in cases of round and oval-window fixation. (3) We build on our past research showing the significance of the inner-ear mechanism of bone conduction in chinchilla, and use this preparation to investigate (a) the mechanisms that contribute to the ear's response to bone conducted sound after ossicular pathology and (b) provide a fundamental test of the influence of cranial tissue vibrations on the ear's response to bone-conducted sound. (4) We use a newly developed bone-conduction-based method to quantify 'conductive'and 'sensorineural'hearing loss in mouse models of mixed hearing loss. Such a separation is critical in understanding the mechanisms of various genetic models of hearing loss.

Public Health Relevance

Middle-ear disease is the most common form of hearing loss, and otologic surgeons routinely repair middle ears but with variable success. This proposal answers questions on the basic mechanisms of middle-ear sound transfer and how the inner ear is stimulated by ossicular prostheses. It also investigates the pathways for bone-conduction hearing and uses bone conduction to define measures that distinguish between middle-ear and inner-ear related hearing losses in animal models of human ear disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01DC000194-30A1
Application #
8694222
Study Section
Auditory System Study Section (AUD)
Program Officer
Watson, Bracie
Project Start
1983-01-01
Project End
2019-02-28
Budget Start
2014-03-01
Budget End
2015-02-28
Support Year
30
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$409,357
Indirect Cost
$141,928
Name
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Department
Type
DUNS #
073825945
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Rosowski, John J; Bowers, Peter; Nakajima, Hideko H (2018) Limits on normal cochlear 'third' windows provided by previous investigations of additional sound paths into and out of the cat inner ear. Hear Res 360:3-13
Chhan, David; McKinnon, Melissa L; Rosowski, John J (2017) Identification of induced and naturally occurring conductive hearing loss in mice using bone conduction. Hear Res 346:45-54
Ravicz, Michael E; Rosowski, John J (2017) Chinchilla middle ear transmission matrix model and middle-ear flexibility. J Acoust Soc Am 141:3274
Chhan, David; Bowers, Peter; McKinnon, Melissa L et al. (2016) Middle-ear and inner-ear contribution to bone conduction in chinchilla: The development of Carhart's notch. Hear Res 340:144-152
Ravicz, Michael E; Rosowski, John J (2013) Inner-ear sound pressures near the base of the cochlea in chinchilla: further investigation. J Acoust Soc Am 133:2208-23
Chhan, David; Röösli, Christof; McKinnon, Melissa L et al. (2013) Evidence of inner ear contribution in bone conduction in chinchilla. Hear Res 301:66-71
Ravicz, Michael E; Rosowski, John J (2013) Middle-ear velocity transfer function, cochlear input immittance, and middle-ear efficiency in chinchilla. J Acoust Soc Am 134:2852-65
Röösli, Christof; Chhan, David; Halpin, Christopher et al. (2012) Comparison of umbo velocity in air- and bone-conduction. Hear Res 290:83-90
Puria, Sunil; Rosowski, John J (2012) Bekesy's contributions to our present understanding of sound conduction to the inner ear. Hear Res 293:21-30
Ravicz, Michael E; Rosowski, John J (2012) Chinchilla middle-ear admittance and sound power: high-frequency estimates and effects of inner-ear modifications. J Acoust Soc Am 132:2437-54

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