Dr. Douglas Oliver Receives $3.2 Million U.S. DoD Grant

Adding to the Arsenal Against Tinnitus

UConn Health professor of neuroscience, Douglas Oliver, has received a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program to develop an improved detection method for one of the most prevalent health problems for veterans.

Tinnitus is the sensation of ringing in the ears. This problem affects 10 percent of all Americans but is a particularly potent problem for veterans.

In combat, soldiers are exposed to explosions, gunfire, and other loud noises. Excessive noise exposure is one of the leading causes for tinnitus. Tinnitus and hearing loss are among the most common disabilities for veterans.

One of the most significant problems with treating tinnitus is that it largely relies on self-reporting. Oliver’s project aims to develop an electrophysiological diagnostic test for tinnitus that is much more objective.

As posted in UConn Today October 29, 2018