My Research on Auditory Dysfunction at the University of California Riverside

Good morning!

I'm finally starting to feel better from my severe sinus/upper respiratory infection.

There's been quite a bit of positive attention to my research on auditory dysfunction at the University of California, Riverside, including a feature in UCRToday and on our local NPR station!

I'm conducting research on auditory dysfunction (AD), a neurological hearing disorder that affects combat veterans with blast exposure. Some level of auditory dysfunction is present in the majority of blast injuries, with or without a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury. The neurological damage to hearing is progressive, and is not currently a focus of initial diagnostic testing for patients without external hearing loss (probably the only hearing test you've had). However, although audiologists at Veteran's Affairs hospitals are conducting research on diagnostic tests to evaluate auditory dysfunction, including our collaborater F. Gallun, there are currently no treatments for AD.

We are using crowdsourcing through experiment.com to try to raise start-up funds. Over the last quarter, our video game development was stalled due to a lack of funds. Anything you can contribute would be much appreciated and very important to our work!

My research focuses on brain training through specially designed video games. My principle investigator (PI) and graduate advisor, Aaron Seitz, PhD, has successfully conducted similar research on the visual system. Dr. Seitz's multi sensory approach to perceptual learning led to better vision tests and significantly improved batting averages for the UCR baseball team!

We hope to develop a non-pharmacological approach to prevent progression of AD, and to develop diagnostic tests that characterize AD. Our collaborators at the VA will contribute to our clinical tests, but currently, we are testing the diagnostic tests, psychometrics (determines thresholds and sensitivity) and brain training on normal hearing young adults (aka UCR undergrads).

Check out our page on experiment.com!