Official Title Linking Age, Balance, Vestibular Function, and Falls

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to learn how aging in different sensory systems, including the vestibular system (that portion of the inner ear that measures both motion and orientation of the head), influences maintaining balance while standing and walking, and contributes to fall risk. 

Could this study be right for you?

• Must be able to stand
• No leg or foot amputations
• No lower limb braces
• Not currently feeling dizzy/lightheaded
• Not currently pregnant by self-report
  • Due to potentially nauseogenic nature of some motions and to protect fetus and mother, pregnant women will also be excluded from this study
• Weight <= 275 pounds
• No past or current history of:
  • Severe head trauma or traumatic brain injury
  • Any vestibular disorder (e.g., Meniere’s Disease, Vestibular Migraine, Unresolved BPPV/BPPN, Vestibular hypofunction, except that due to aging, PPPD) as assessed using clinical diagnostic tests described in proposal
  • History of seizures
  • Neurologic illness or conditions known to impact vestibular or balance function(e.g., stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, demyelinating illness)
  • Major psychiatric (e.g., panic disorder, psychosis, etc.) disorder
  • Any of the following eye diseases or conditions: amblyopia (or “lazy eye”) or history of amblyopia, diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration, retina dystrophy, glaucoma, cataracts, or any other eye condition that limits vision to worse than 20/40
  • Recent (<6 months) orthopedic injuries of the lower extremities (e.g., plantar fasciitis, ankle, knee or hip injury, back strain/herniated disc, …).
  • Upper extremity injuries requiring current sling immobilization
  • Recent surgery
  • Any other severe health problem (heart disease, pulmonary disease, cancer, etc.).
  • Vision in both eyes must be better than 20/40 with best correction
  • Outer and/or middle ear pathologies
  • Otologic pathologies or diagnoses (e.g. Meniere’s disease, otosclerosis, conductive or mixed hearing losses)
• Must be able to walk unassisted for 30 minutes
• No current use of ambulatory assistive devices
• Normal hearing bilaterally, air conduction pure-tone thresholds ≤ 25 dB HL at all octave frequencies between 250 and 8000 Hz
• Bilaterally, symmetric sensorineural hearing loss with four-frequency pure-tone average (500, 1000, 2000, 4000) less than 71 dB HL
• If interested, please go to go.osu.edu/vestibular to be screened for eligibility

Age Range

18 - 89 years

Official Title Establishing Reference Values and Clinical Decision Points for Quantitative Videofluoroscopic Measures of Swallowing

Purpose

This study will help create healthy reference values clinicians can use to evaluate adult patients of all ages and is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging.  During this study, we will perform an x-ray swallowing exam and breathing tests with persons who do not have a personal history of swallowing problems or any disorders that could contribute to a swallowing problem.  Study participation will consist of a screening meeting (approximately 15 minutes) via phone call, video chat, or email to verify eligibility, and one in-person visit to our laboratory (approximately 1 hour).

Could this study be right for you?

• If you are biologically female and of child-bearing age (<63), you must not be pregnant or breastfeeding.
• No personal history of surgery or radiation therapy to the head or neck (mouth, jaw, neck, brain, nose, face, thyroid, throat, or voice box) other than having your tonsils, adenoids, or teeth removed.
• No personal history of cancer involving structures of the head, neck, spine, respiratory, or lymphatic system.
• No personal history of stroke or other progressive nerve disease.
• No current diagnosis or personal history of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
• No known allergies to barium.

Age Range

54 - 89 years

Purpose

This study aims at preserving residual hearing and assessing outcomes in cochlear implant patients.

Could this study be right for you?

• Sensorineural hearing loss in both ears acquired after birth
• Better hearing in the low frequencies in the ear to be implanted
• Severe to profound hearing loss in the mid-to-high frequencies in the ear to be implanted
• English-speaking

Inclusion Criteria varies, please contact Study Coordinator. 

Age Range

18 - 79 years

Official Title Short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on multiple sensory systems

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on multiple sensory systems, including smell, taste, hearing, and balance.

The study requires about 2.5 hours of your time for your first visit, during which you may undergo smell, taste, hearing, motion, and balance tests. You may be require to participate several follow-up visits, each last 1.5 hours, if you continue to experience symptoms.

 

Could this study be right for you?

• Adults diagnosed with COVID 19 within the past 1-8 weeks
• Adults with previous COVID-19 diagnosis and has persistent (>90 days) complaints of sensory dysfunctions (smell, taste, chemesthesis, hearing, balance, dizziness)
• Adult with a recent (<8 weeks) upper respiratory infection (cold, flu, etc.)
• Adult with a previous upper respiratory infection (cold, flu, etc.) and has complaints of sensory dysfunctions (smell, taste, hearing, balance, dizziness)

Age Range

18 - 99 years

Official Title Development of Parent-Child Interactions

Purpose

This study will examine how a child’s hearing loss may affect the dynamics of parent-child interactions. The study will observe how normal-hearing and hearing-impaired child learn novel words during videotaped parent-child interactions.

Individual study visits may last 30-45 minutes, and there may be multiple study visits per year.

Could this study be right for you?

• Families with children 9 months to 6 years of age
• Children who do and do not have hearing loss may be eligible to participate in this study