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How sound processing in the ear and brain relates to educational outcomes, mental health, and quality of life in adolescents living with HIV

Award Number: R01HD095277
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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How sound processing in the ear and brain relates to educational outcomes, mental health, and quality of life in adolescents living with HIV - Even with active antiretroviral therapy, some children living with HIV develop neurocognitive deficits and show neurodevelopmental delays. This can affect their ability to read, form relationships, and find productive employment. Detecting HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) effects early, and following their progress reliably, is critical for studying, assessing, and treating this disabling HIV co-morbidity—particularly in the lower- and middle- income countries where most cases exist and resources are limited. We have been tracking literacy development and cognitive performance longitudinally in a cohort of children living with and without HIV (CLWH/CLWOH) in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The focus is determining if tests of central auditory function (i.e., tests of the brain’s ability to process complex sounds) are associated with, or predict, the development of literacy, behavioral problems, and neurocognitive abilities. Results show that CLWH have worse neurocognitive performance, poorer literacy skills, and more behavioral problems on average than their non-infected age and socioeconomic status matched peers. Interestingly, central auditory test performance correlates with literacy and neurocognitive outcomes. Children who consistently perform better than their peers in detecting speech in background noise are more likely to read earlier than those who do not. Similarly, children with poor central auditory performance also have worse performance on cognitive tests of memory, attention, and processing speed. These results support our previous work showing that performance on tasks assessing the central auditory system correlate with tests of neurocognitive abilities. These longitudinal results suggest the tests might be predictive, where a central auditory test at a young age might help predict the subsequent development of literacy and at a later age. Children entered the current study at ages 3-8, now they will be entering adolescence. A key question is whether these tests might predict critical life outcomes such as school performance, mental health, and quality of life. Very few studies exist that follow CLWH into adolescence when CLWH take more responsibility for their care. This renewal will show how auditory tests relate to educational outcomes, mental health, and quality of life in a well-studied cohort of CLWH/CLWOH as they progress into adolescence. We have assembled an international team with experience in central auditory, neurocognitive, and neuropsychological testing. Dr. Nina Kraus and her team at Northwestern are internationally recognized experts in auditory electrophysiology. The Dar es Salaam team has extensive experience in performing both central auditory and neurocognitive tests and managing large-scale studies. Dr. Jonathan Lichtenstein is expert in assessing neurocognitive function and developmental delays in children. Together this team will track educational, mental health, and quality of life outcomes in CLWH and determine the role central auditory testing could play in predicting or assessing the neurocognitive effects of HIV infection. These tests may offer a new and improved way to assess critical life outcomes in adolescents living with HIV.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	7 LEBANON ST	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	6	3/20/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$6,566
2025	2022	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	7 LEBANON ST	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	3/20/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$6,566
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $834,593 )
2024	2024	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	7 LEBANON ST	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	6	8/1/2024	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$834,593
2024	2022	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	7 LEBANON ST	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	3/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2024	2022	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	7 LEBANON ST	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	5	7/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $834,593

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $675,861 )
2022	2022	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	6001 PARKHURST HALL STE 207	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	4/27/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$675,861
														Subtotal = $675,861

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $683,801 )
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	6001 PARKHURST HALL STE 207	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	4	8/27/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$13,676
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	1 HINMAN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	4	4/19/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$670,125
														Subtotal = $683,801

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $690,276 )
2020	2020	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	1 HINMAN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	4/23/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$690,276
														Subtotal = $690,276

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $739,254 )
2019	2019	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	1 HINMAN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	2	4/25/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$739,785
2019	2018	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	1 HINMAN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	4/19/2019	NEW	-$531
														Subtotal = $739,254

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $809,383 )
2018	2018	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	1 HINMAN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	1	8/22/2018	NEW	-$46,836
2018	2018	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	1 HINMAN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	8/16/2018	NEW	$856,219
														Subtotal = $809,383

Grand Total All Awards = $4,433,168

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How sound processing in the ear and brain relates to educational outcomes, mental health, and quality of life in adolescents living with HIV

Award Number: R01HD095277

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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