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National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)

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Naomi Bramhall, Au.D., Ph.D.

Email: naomi.bramhall@va.gov
Telephone: 503-220-8262 x54692

Current appointments:

Research Investigator, NCRAR
Clinical Audiologist, Audiology & Speech Pathology Service, VA Portland Health Care System
Associate Professor, Otolaryngology, Oregon Health & Science University

Dr. Bramhall’s research focuses on:

  • Identifying auditory physiological measures in humans that can be used for diagnosis of cochlear deafferentation, the disruption of the afferent connection between the peripheral and central auditory system due to loss of inner hair cells, cochlear synapses, or spiral ganglion cells.
  • Determining the perceptual consequences of cochlear deafferentation. 

Because animal models and human temporal bone studies suggest that noise exposure can lead to significant cochlear synapse loss, Dr. Bramhall is particularly interested in auditory physiological characteristics of Veterans with a history of military noise exposure.

Research projects (Current and recently completed):

  • Mouse, Man, and Machine: Combining Model System to Develop a Biomarker for Cochlear Deafferentation in Humans. NIH NIDCD, R01, 2022-2027
  • Resolving the Paradox of Hearing Complaints with a Normal Audiogram: Differential Diagnosis and Perceptual Impacts of Cochlear Deafferentation. VA RR&D, Merit Award, 2022-2026
  • Listening effort during complex speech perception. American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Independent Clinical Research Grant December 2019-November 2021. 
  • Uncovering physiological markers of hidden hearing loss. VA RR&D, Career Development Award, 2016-2021
  • Noise-induced cochlear neuronal degeneration and its perceptual consequences. VA RR&D, Career Development Award, 2014-2016

Selected publications:

  • Bramhall, N. F., Reavis, K. M., Feeney, M. P., Kampel, S. D. (2022). The Impacts of Noise Exposure on the Middle Ear Muscle Reflex in a Veteran Population. Am J Audiol: 1-17.
  • Bramhall, N. F., Kampel, S. D., Reavis, K. M., Konrad-Martin, D. (2022). Contralateral inhibition of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in young noise-exposed Veterans. J Acoust Soc Am 152(6): 3562.
  • Buran, B. N., McMillan, G. P., Keshishzadeh, S., Verhulst, S., Bramhall, N. F. (2022). Predicting synapse counts in living humans by combining computational models with auditory physiology. J Acoust Soc Am 151(1): 561.
  • Griest-Hines, S. E., Bramhall, N. F., Reavis, K. M., Theodoroff, S. M., Henry, J. A. (2021). Development and Initial Validation of the Lifetime Exposure to Noise and Solvents Questionnaire in U.S. Service Members and Veterans. Am J Audiol, 1-15.
  • Bramhall, N. F. (2021). Use of the auditory brainstem response for assessment of cochlear synaptopathy in humans. J Acoust Soc Am 150(6): 4440.
  • Bramhall, N. F., McMillan, G. P., Kampel, S. D. (2021). Envelope following response measurements in young veterans are consistent with noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy. Hear Res, 408, 108310.
  • Bramhall, N. F., McMillan, G. P., Mashburn, A. N. (2021). Subclinical Auditory Dysfunction: Relationship Between Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions and the Audiogram. Am J Audiol, 1-16.
  • Bramhall, N. F., Niemczak, C. E., Kampel, S. D., Billings, C. J., McMillan, G. P. (2020). Evoked Potentials Reveal Noise Exposure-Related Central Auditory Changes Despite Normal Audiograms. Am J Audiol, 1-13.
  • Bramhall, N. F., McMillan, G. P., Gallun, F. J., Konrad-Martin, D. (2019). Auditory brainstem response demonstrates that reduced peripheral auditory input is associated with self-report of tinnitus. J Acoust Soc Am, 146, 3849.
  • Bramhall, N., Beach, E. F., Epp, B., Le Prell, C. G., Lopez-Poveda, E. A., Plack, C. J., Schaette, R., Verhulst, S., Canlon, B. (2019). The search for noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy in humans: Mission impossible? Hear Res, 377, 88-103.
  • Bramhall, N.F., Konrad-Martin, D., McMillan, G. (2018). Tinnitus and Auditory Perception After a History of Noise Exposure: Relationship to Auditory Brainstem Response Measures. Ear and Hearing, 39: 881-894.
  • Bramhall, N.F., Konrad-Martin, D., McMillan, G.P., Griest, S.E. (2017). Auditory Brainstem Response Altered in Humans With Noise Exposure Despite Normal Outer Hair Cell Function. Ear and Hearing, 38: e1-e12.
  • Bramhall, N., Ong, B., Ko, J., Parker, M. (2015). Speech Perception Ability in Noise is Correlated with Auditory Brainstem Response Wave I Amplitude. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 26: 509-17.
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