Award
NIH Reporter #5R33DC021643-04
mHealth OAE: Towards Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in Kenya (mTUNE)
Recipient
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
Award Amount
$314,256.00
Ceiling
$314,256.00
Awarded
August 27, 2026
Identifier
5R33DC021643-04
The project develops and tests a smartphone-based hearing screening tool for newborns in Kenya, targeting early detection of hearing loss and middle ear conditions, especially in infants with HIV exposure, to support sustainable ear and hearing care programs.
Description
This project aims to optimize and test smartphone-based universal hearing screening for newborns and infants in Kenya, focusing on infants with HIV exposure. It involves deploying serial hearing screening coupled with smartphone-based detection of middle ear fluid to determine rates of otitis media with effusion, a modifiable risk factor for early hearing loss. The project establishes a foundation for smartphone otoacoustic emissions (OAE) in universal newborn hearing screening programs, high-risk infant surveillance, ototoxicity monitoring, and future research to improve ear and hearing care in resource-limited settings.