Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Date of Graduation
Spring 2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Department
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Advisor(s)
Lincoln C. Gray
Abstract
Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss is a condition that affects approximately 40% of the population over 65 years of age (Gates & Mills, 2005). Studying the effects of EphA4 mutations (wild type, heterozygous, and homozygous) mice is fundamental in understanding the relationship between onset of age-related hearing loss, in both the mammalian population and the human population. In order to further understanding of age-related hearing loss, the researchers evaluated thirty-six mice in a preliminary study from two months to nine months of age. Following data analysis, the researchers confirmed the results by continuing a second round of testing. The hearing potential of nine mice in a longitudinal study evaluated thresholds, peak latencies and amplitudes of mice from six months of age to nine months of age. The researchers found a correlation between the delayed onset of hearing loss in the lower frequencies and broadband clicks of the heterozygous (EphA4lacZ/+) mice subject group. There is a positive relationship (r2 = 0.067, p < 0.001) between the dB Threshold analysis of the independent observers. Additionally, there is a positive relationship (r2 = 0.334, p < 0.001) between the independent observers’ data analyses of peak one latency. Based on a preliminary discussion with the director of the National Institute of Aging, there is reason to speculate a heterozygous advantage to delay the onset of age-related hearing loss.
Recommended Citation
Hoogerland, Erica L., "Reflection: Effect of age on auditory brainstem responses in mice with EphA4 mutations" (2016). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 180.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/180
