Hearing researchers share findings

Researchers from the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University recently attended the Midwinter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, the largest meeting of hearing scientists in the world. Due to pandemic restrictions, the 2022 meeting, Feb. 5-9, was forced to move to an all-virtual format, but that did not dampen participation by the […]

Understanding how hearing loss interferes with the lives of older adults

As our aged population grows, so does the incidence of age-related hearing loss. In fact, about 50% of those over 70 years of age experience notable hearing loss and difficulties associated with that loss. Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at Washington University Kate McClannahan, PhD, hopes to alleviate those difficulties by better understanding how personality, cognition, […]

Q&A with Deaf Education student Liberty Moore

photo of Liberty Moore

Liberty Moore is a graduate student in Deaf Education here at Washington University. A bilateral cochlear implant recipient, she has garnered experience as both a research subject and research scientist and hopes to become a teacher of the deaf. How did your deafness develop and at what age did you receive cochlear implants? I was […]

ENT residents garner research awards

photo of Walia in operating room

Washington University otolaryngology residents Amit Walia, MD, and David Lee, MD, received research grants from the American Hearing Research Foundation (AHRF). The awards are $1,000 each and will provide supplies and other expenses related to their research projects. Title: Optical Coherence Tomography of Inner Ear StructuresPI: David Lee, MDMentor: Nedim Durakovic, MD Hearing instability disorders, […]

ENT celebrates 41st Senturia Lecture

Senturia Lectureship montage

The Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University celebrated the 41st annual Senturia Lectureship on Nov. 17, 2021. Invited guest speaker Michael Hoa, MD, presented his recent work on hearing instability disorders, which includes Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that often causes hearing loss and vertigo (dizzy spells). Hoa, an associate professor in […]

Q&A with Chair Craig Buchman

photo of Buchman family

Celebrating his sixth anniversary as head of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Lindburg Professor Craig A. Buchman, MD, shares his passions for neurotology and outdoor adventures. Highlights Undergraduate: University of Georgia (where he met his wife Liz nearly 40 years ago) Medical degree: University of Florida in Gainesville Residency: University of Pittsburgh School […]

Clinical trials offer hope for those with hearing loss

photo of boy with cochlear implant

The Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University in St. Louis plans to start recruiting patients this month for three important clinical trials. Clinical Utility of Residual Hearing in the Cochlear Implant Ear Principal Investigators: Amanda Ortmann, PhD, and Oliver Adunka, MD Project summary and aims: It is estimated that only five percent of qualified adult […]

Improving hearing aid benefits through digital training

Hearing loss is the third most common health condition for older adults in the US, and if untreated, may lead to social isolation, depression, cognitive decline, and fear of being home alone. Sadly, over 48% of seniors who purchase hearing aids cannot adjust to them well enough to use them daily and 31% report never […]

Understanding the challenges of unilateral hearing loss in children

Photo of Dr. Lieu performing an otoscopic exam on young patient

The prevalence of single-sided or unilateral hearing loss (UHL) in school-aged children may be as high as 5%. Historically, unilateral hearing loss was thought to have little consequence because speech and language presumably developed appropriately with one normally hearing ear. According to Washington University pediatric otolaryngologist Judith Lieu, MD, however, some studies suggest that a […]

WashU lab finds clues to restoring hearing loss in rare Alport Syndrome

Michael Anne Gratton, PhD, and her lab are using a mouse model to explore how Alport Syndrome, a rare genetic condition, causes hearing loss. Recent findings have highlighted the mechanisms underlying Alport symptoms and identified therapeutic interventions that may prevent kidney dysunction and hearing loss in these patients. Alport Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder […]