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Prof C Plack, Dr Garreth Prendergast
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only
About the Project
There is increasing concern that young people are damaging their hearing through recreational activities such as attendance at live music events and use of personal listening devices. When measuring noise exposure, it is common to estimate the total energy of exposure over a certain period. However, animal research suggests that the ear may be “conditioned” by prior exposure to moderate noise levels, so that it is less vulnerable to intense exposures. In this project we will test the hypothesis that prior noise exposure decreases susceptibility to noise damage in humans, using temporary threshold shift as a measure of susceptibility. Participants aged 18-40 will be recruited into two groups: regular attendees at loud music events, and infrequent attendees, determined by self-report. Participants will be tested using audiometry and otoacoustic emission testing, before and after attending a loud music event. The project will provide invaluable information on the mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss in humans.
Candidates are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a first class undergraduate degree and ideally a postgraduate qualification that included a research project (e.g. MSc or MRes). Evidence of research output (e.g. peer-reviewed publication, newsletter article, conference presentation) would be advantageous. Candidates with an interest in audiology, hearing science, psychology, neuroscience, medical/clinical science or related discipline are encouraged to apply. For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Informal enquiries may be made directly to the primary supervisor.
For international students we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences. For more information please visit www.internationalphd.manchester.ac.uk
Candidates are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a first class undergraduate degree and ideally a postgraduate qualification that included a research project (e.g. MSc or MRes). Evidence of research output (e.g. peer-reviewed publication, newsletter article, conference presentation) would be advantageous. Candidates with an interest in audiology, hearing science, psychology, neuroscience, medical/clinical science or related discipline are encouraged to apply. For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Informal enquiries may be made directly to the primary supervisor.
For international students we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences. For more information please visit www.internationalphd.manchester.ac.uk
Funding Notes
Applications are invited from self-funded students. This project has a Band 2 fee. Details of our different fee bands can be found on our website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/fees/). For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/).
As an equal opportunities institution we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
As an equal opportunities institution we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
References
Guest, H., Munro, K.J., Prendergast, G., and Plack, C.J. (2019). “Reliability and interrelations of seven proxy measures of cochlear synaptopathy,” Hear Res.
Guest, H., Munro, K.J., and Plack, C.J. (2019). “Acoustic middle-ear-muscle-reflex thresholds in humans with normal audiograms: No relations to tinnitus, speech perception in noise, or noise exposure,” Neurosci.
Guest, H., Dewey, R., Plack, C.J., Couth, S., Prendergast, G., Bakay, W., and Hall, D.A. (2018). “The Noise Exposure Structured Interview (NESI): An instrument for the comprehensive estimation of lifetime noise exposure,” Trends Hear. 22.
Prendergast, G., Tu, W., Guest, H., Millman, R.E., Kluk, K., Couth, S., Munro, K.J., and Plack, C.J. (2018). “Supra-threshold auditory brainstem response amplitudes in humans: Test-retest reliability, electrode montage and noise exposure,” Hear. Res. 364, 38-47.
Guest, H., Munro, K.J., Prendergast, G., and Plack, C.J. (2018). “Impaired speech perception in noise with a normal audiogram: No evidence for cochlear synaptopathy and no relation to lifetime noise exposure,” Hear. Res. 364, 142-151.
Dewey, R.S, Hall, D.A., Guest, H., Prendergast, G., Plack, C.J., and Francis, S. (2018). “A protocol for imaging the physiological bases of “hidden” noise-induced hearing loss,” JMIR Res. Protoc. 7, e79.
Prendergast, G., Millman, R.E., Guest, H., Munro, K.J., Kluk, K., Dewey, R.S., Hall, D.A., Heinz, M.G., and Plack, C.J. (2017). “Effects of noise exposure on young adults with normal audiograms II: Behavioral measures,” Hear. Res. 356, 74-86.
Prendergast, G., Guest, H., Munro, K.J., Kluk, K., Léger, A., Hall, D.A., Heinz, M.G., and Plack, C.J. (2017). “Effects of noise exposure on young adults with normal audiograms I: Electrophysiology,” Hear. Res. 344, 68-81.
Guest, H., Munro, K.J., and Plack, C.J. (2017). “Tinnitus with a normal audiogram: Role of high-frequency sensitivity and reanalysis of brainstem-response measures to avoid audiometric over-matching,” Hear. Res. 356, 116-117.
Guest, H., Munro, K.J., and Plack, C.J. (2019). “Acoustic middle-ear-muscle-reflex thresholds in humans with normal audiograms: No relations to tinnitus, speech perception in noise, or noise exposure,” Neurosci.
Guest, H., Dewey, R., Plack, C.J., Couth, S., Prendergast, G., Bakay, W., and Hall, D.A. (2018). “The Noise Exposure Structured Interview (NESI): An instrument for the comprehensive estimation of lifetime noise exposure,” Trends Hear. 22.
Prendergast, G., Tu, W., Guest, H., Millman, R.E., Kluk, K., Couth, S., Munro, K.J., and Plack, C.J. (2018). “Supra-threshold auditory brainstem response amplitudes in humans: Test-retest reliability, electrode montage and noise exposure,” Hear. Res. 364, 38-47.
Guest, H., Munro, K.J., Prendergast, G., and Plack, C.J. (2018). “Impaired speech perception in noise with a normal audiogram: No evidence for cochlear synaptopathy and no relation to lifetime noise exposure,” Hear. Res. 364, 142-151.
Dewey, R.S, Hall, D.A., Guest, H., Prendergast, G., Plack, C.J., and Francis, S. (2018). “A protocol for imaging the physiological bases of “hidden” noise-induced hearing loss,” JMIR Res. Protoc. 7, e79.
Prendergast, G., Millman, R.E., Guest, H., Munro, K.J., Kluk, K., Dewey, R.S., Hall, D.A., Heinz, M.G., and Plack, C.J. (2017). “Effects of noise exposure on young adults with normal audiograms II: Behavioral measures,” Hear. Res. 356, 74-86.
Prendergast, G., Guest, H., Munro, K.J., Kluk, K., Léger, A., Hall, D.A., Heinz, M.G., and Plack, C.J. (2017). “Effects of noise exposure on young adults with normal audiograms I: Electrophysiology,” Hear. Res. 344, 68-81.
Guest, H., Munro, K.J., and Plack, C.J. (2017). “Tinnitus with a normal audiogram: Role of high-frequency sensitivity and reanalysis of brainstem-response measures to avoid audiometric over-matching,” Hear. Res. 356, 116-117.
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