Research Labs: John Oghalai
Research Lab Team
Click here for more detailed information about the research in the Oghalai lab and for patient information.
The Oghalai lab has two major thrusts. Our translational research efforts are designed to better understand the mechanisms of hearing loss and our clinical research approaches are targeted to directly and rapidly improve the care of patients with hearing loss.
Translational Research
A common clinical scenario is that a child is initially identified with a partial hearing loss, which then progresses to profound hearing loss over a period of months to years. Genetic defects are responsible for over half of these cases, however the specific mechanisms of how many of these mutations cause progressive sensorineural hearing loss is unclear. Adults similarly lose hearing progressively, albeit at a slower rate, typically due to aging and/or noise exposure.
We study normal and transgenic mice that have hearing loss. Cochlear function is monitored with measurements of the compound action potential, the auditory evoked brainstem response, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, the cochlear microphonic, and the olivocochlear reflex. Basilar membrane motion is measured using laser doppler vibrometry and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Histological study of the inner ear is performed using immunohistochemistry. We also use the patch-clamp technique with to study hair cell and spiral ganglion cell physiology. We are also in the process of developing novel optical techniques for in vivo imaging and stimulation. Recently, we have been using acousto-optical deflectors (AODs) to control a laser in the near-infrared range (680-950 nm). Unlike conventional mirror setups, AODs allow near-instantaneous, random access across a sample, power control, and dwell time in the microsecond range.
Clinical Research
Our clinical research is focused on improving what we are currently doing to help children with deafness. Cochlear implants (CI) are the most common treatment for deafness. While many factors influence the ability of a deaf child who is hearing through a CI to develop speech and language skills, an important factor is to properly program the CI. However, implementing the optimal CI program is a challenging, individualized, and iterative process with variable success.
One difficulty in CI programming is obtaining behavioral measurements from the young children in which CIs are usually implanted. Therefore, we are developing the technique of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to functionally image activity within the auditory cortex of children hearing through a cochlear implant.
As well, we are running a multi-site, prospective randomized clinical trial of deaf children with special needs. The goal of the study is to determine the best treatment options for children that require such complex and individualized care. This trial is actively enrolling participants at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, CA and at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX.
For more information about this trial, click here.
