SUMMARY
People with hearing loss represent one of the largest disability groups in society. Hearing loss extends across
all ethnic and socioeconomic groups, and covers two broad spectra: first, the degree of loss, ranging from hard
of hearing (correctable with hearing aids) to profound (which often can be mitigated with cochlear implants); and
second, etiology which can be congenital, progressive, late-onset or acquired. Each of these can affect the extent
of the challenges faced by people with hearing loss, but any hearing loss negatively affects communication –
and therefore socialization - to some degree. Significant technological advances over the past 20 years have
greatly improved the capacity of people with hearing loss to listen and speak; improved hearing increases
information received and, with training, children with hearing loss can learn to listen, speak and participate in
mainstream activities. However, students with hearing loss at mainstream public schools and colleges still
struggle with reduced access to auditory information and deal with the societal challenges of isolation, ignorance
and invisibility. In spite of these barriers, there are individuals with hearing loss who have succeeded in executive
and professorial careers in STEMM, particularly in auditory sciences. In this R25 proposal, Johns Hopkins
University (JHU) will implement a multi-institutional distributed mentoring model called STEMM-HEAR. The
successful development of this model will be a template for other university programs to recruit underrepresented
minorities (URM), particularly those with disabilities, and guide research leaders in providing an encouraging and
supportive internship experience to promote greater diversity in STEMM. By acquiring research experiences with
mentors who are auditory scientists with hearing loss, 32-52 students with hearing loss will develop improved
social and emotional capabilities needed to maximize their potential in STEMM. The model will accelerate the
recruitment of students with hearing loss into careers in STEMM, including the hearing sciences. JHU will work
with the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Hearing Loss Association of
America to recruit 8-12 trainees annually to work in hearing sciences laboratories at Oregon Health & Science
University, University of Southern California, Creighton University, Rice University and later at Stanford
University and University of Minnesota. By participating in summer internship programs at these institutions,
these students will acquire and share research experiences via a peer network mentoring program within a
community of scientists and engineers with hearing loss.
