Merri J. Rosen, Ph.D.
Meet the Researcher
Merri Rosen, Ph.D. received a B.A. in Psychology and Music from Wesleyan University, an M.S. in Neurobiology from Brandeis University, and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Duke University. Rosen conducted postdoctoral research at Cornell University and New York University, and is now an Assistant Professor at Northeast Ohio Medical University. Dr. Rosen is a Royal Arch Masons award recipient. The Royal Arch Masons support Emerging Research Grants in the area of Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). See all researchers who have received or are currently receiving funding from the Royal Arch Masons.
The Research
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Effects of developmental conductive hearing loss on communication processing: perceptual deficits and neural correlates in an animal model
Conductive hearing loss (CHL), which reduces the sound conducted to the inner ear, is often associated with chronic ear infections (otitis media). There is growing awareness that CHL in children is a risk factor for speech and language deficits. However, children often have intermittent bouts of hearing loss and receive varying treatments. My research uses an animal model in which the duration and extent of CHL can be effectively controlled. This research will identify parameters of natural vocalizations (such as slow or fast changes in pitch or loudness) that are poorly detected after early CHL. Neural responses from the auditory cortex will be recorded while animals behaviorally distinguish vocalizations that vary in specific ways. This will reveal the specific vocalization components that are perceptually impaired by developmental hearing loss. These components should be used as targets for intervention and remediation. Creating training paradigms for children that target these parameters should improve speech perception and comprehension.
Research area: Hearing Loss; Auditory Development; Auditory Physiology; Fundamental Auditory Research
Long-term goal of research: To identify neural mechanisms that impairs auditory perception of natural sounds as a result of hearing loss. This will show how the brain distinguishes sounds from different sources in complex environments. Neurophysiological, perceptual, and computational techniques to study animal models of hearing loss were applied. This multifaceted approach allowed the identification of neural impairments in more detail than if it was obtained when studying humans, yet is directly applicable to clarify human hearing problems and establish effective treatments.
