Deep Phenotyping of Hearing Instability Disorders: Cohort Establishment, Biomarker Identification, Development of Novel Phenotyping Measures, and Discovery of Therapeutic Targets

Background:

Disorders of hearing instability (HI) are poorly characterized and ineffectively treated. HI can cause fluctuations in hearing thresholds and speech understanding. Researchers want to use a specialized form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood tests to learn more about HI.

Objective:

To characterize a cohort of people with HI and to correlate HI with other data, including hearing evaluations, as well as radiologic and immunologic biomarkers of inflammation over time.

Eligibility:

Adults ages 18-80 who have symptoms consistent with possible HI.

Design:

Participants will be screened with a medical and hearing history and medical record review.

Participants will have physical exams. Their head and neck will be examined. They will have blood drawn.

Participants will have hearing tests. They will wear headphones or foam earplugs. They will listen to different tones. They may describe what they hear.

Participants will have balance tests. They will wear goggles as they watch moving lights or while cold or warm air is blown into their ears. They will sit in a spinning chair in a quiet, dark booth. From a reclining position, they will raise their head while clicking sounds are played into their ears.

Participants will have MRIs of the inner ear and brain. The MRI scanner is a metal cylinder surrounded by a strong magnetic field. During the MRIs, participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of the scanner. Soft padding or a coil will be placed around their head. They will get a contrast agent through an intravenous catheter.

Participation will last up to 15 months.

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