Oregon scientist uses owl research to help detect hearing problems in babies

(AUGUST 7, 2020) A scientist in Oregon has found a new way to detect hearing loss in babies. And it began in an unusual way. The scientist first thought of the idea while he was studying owls.

Avinash Bala is a neuroscientist at the University of Oregon. In 1998, he helped with research about owls. He wanted to learn how they hear sound. He wanted to teach the owls to respond to different sounds.

Bala noticed that an owl's eyes changed with unexpected sounds. Their pupils dilate. That means that parts of their eyes opened larger.

“So, we asked, might this work in humans?” Bala said. “It would be a great way to assess hearing in people who cannot respond." Usual tests require the person to push a button or raise a hand. That does not work for babies or other people who cannot respond.

Bala determined that humans have the same reaction to new sounds. Their eyes dilate even with small changes. For example, he used the two words "bah" and "pah." First, a person heard "bah" nine times. When the person then heard "pah," their eyes dilated.

The test for babies plays an animated video to hold the baby's attention. The computer measures the baby's pupil. It looks for changes in size as it plays different sounds.

Bala and his team hope that this new test will give doctors and parents another tool to detect hearing problems in babies while the brain is still in development.