National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) at the Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, Oregon
NCRAR website
Mission:
The NCRAR’s mission is to gain new knowledge and to translate that knowledge into improved clinical diagnosis and assessment methodologies, and therapeutic treatment strategies, for auditory disorders as well as into preventing auditory disabilities in veterans of all ages. The NCRAR’s research is multidisciplinary, combining audiology, psychology, neuroscience, neurology, otolaryngology and engineering.The NCRAR also contributes to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s standing as a leading rehabilitation research organization through the mentoring and training of the next generation of clinicians and clinical researchers.
The NCRAR is a national resource for veterans, researchers, clinicians and the general public through the dissemination of research findings and education about auditory rehabilitation options. The NCRAR Education and Outreach Program educates clinical audiologists and other health care professionals, provides education and outreach to the community, particularly to the veteran population, and provides educational opportunities for auditory researchers.
Current Research Areas:
The NCRAR’s three major research areas of emphasis include:
- Hearing loss prevention through education and ototoxicity monitoring
- Diagnosis and assessment focused on developing the best evaluation measures to determine a person's needs surrounding rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation for hearing loss, tinnitus and vestibular problems through development of new forms of intervention, innovative rehabilitative devices and techniques
Potential Joint Research Areas:
The NCRAR looks forward to collaborating on topics of mutual interest. These could include:
- Rehabilitation of blast-related and noise-induced auditory injury
- Rehabilitation strategies based on the plasticity of the central auditory system
- Telehealth and web-based audiological services and programs
Key Capabilities:
A full facility, measuring over 20,000 square feet, located within the Portland VA Medical Center, with:
- Ten sound booths and associated control rooms
- An anechoic chamber with an interior volume of 4096 cubic feet
- Office and research space for investigators, audiologists, engineers, statisticians and other support staff, as well as a patient education space
- Engineering laboratory to support the design and development of specialized equipment for auditory research and clinical applications
POC:
Patrick Feeney, Ph.D.
Director, NCRAR
Portland VA Medical Center (NCRAR)
3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road
Portland, Oregon 97239
Phone: (503) 273-5306
E-mail: patrick.feeney@va.gov
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