The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has awarded a multi-center grant to the University of Iowa, Boys Town National Research Hospital and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This five-year, $8.9 million grant is designed to study mild to severe hearing loss in young children.

Researchers at the three sites will explore the effects of educational programs and audiological services, such as hearing aids, on the outcomes of young children with mild to severe hearing loss.

Mary Pat Moeller, Ph.D. of Boys Town National Research Hospital and Bruce Tomblin, Ph.D. of the University of Iowa are co-principal investigators for the grant.

“Research involving this group of children has been limited, and it is important to understand the impact of earlier access to interventions on the outcomes for children and families,” Dr. Moeller said. By studying the challenges faced by children who wear hearing aids, we can determine what programs and treatments will help them to succeed socially and academically in a hearing environment.”