National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)
Sarah Theodoroff, Ph.D.
Email: sarah.theodoroff@va.gov
Telephone: 503-220-8262, x51948
Current appointments:
- Research Investigator, NCRAR
- Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology/HNS, Oregon Health & Science University
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences, Portland State University
- Adjunct Professor, School of Audiology, Pacific University
Research interests:
- Develop a safe, practical, and cost-effective intervention for chronic tinnitus
- Develop an effective paradigm to diagnose and assess hyperacusis and distinguish it from other decreased sound tolerance disorders
- Develop procedures to improve diagnostic, assessment, and treatment of auditory disorders
- Explore the impact of military and non-military noise exposures on developing tinnitus, hearing loss, and disorders of decreased sound tolerance
Current and Recently Completed Research Projects:
“A New Therapeutic Approach for Somatosensory Tinnitus”
Principal Investigator: Sarah M. Theodoroff
VA RR&D, 2019 - 2021
“A New Approach to Diagnosing Hyperacusis in Tinnitus Patients”
Principal Investigator: Sarah M. Theodoroff
American Tinnitus Association, 2017 – 2018
“Clinical Trial of Sound-Based versus Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus”
Principal Investigators: James A. Henry (PI), Sarah M. Theodoroff (Co-PI)
Desyncra, Inc., 2016 – 2019
“Effects of Military Noise Exposure on Auditory Function in Service Members and Recently Discharged Veterans”
DoD, Congressionally Directed Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program (JWMRP): 2017 – 2021
Principal Investigator: James A. Henry, PhD
Co-Investigators: Sarah Theodoroff PhD, M. Samantha Lewis PhD, Kathleen Carlson PhD, Susan Griest MPH
“MRI Verification of the TMS Target for Tinnitus Treatment”
Principal Investigator: Sarah Theodoroff, PhD
Medical Research Foundation, 2015 – 2016
“Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Device for Acoustic Treatment of Tinnitus During Sleep”
Principal Investigator: James A. Henry, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator: Sarah Theodoroff, PhD
Baker Group, 2015 – 2016
“The Effect of Military Noise Exposure on Tinnitus and its Outcomes in Recently Discharged Veterans Seeking VA Health Care”
Principal Investigator: James A. Henry, PhD
Co-Investigators: Sarah Theodoroff PhD, M. Samantha Lewis PhD, Kathleen Carlson PhD, Susan Griest MPH, Don Austin MD, MPH
DoD, office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP): 2013 – 2016
“Clinical Trial of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Relief of Tinnitus”
Principal Investigator: Robert L. Folmer, PhD
Co-Investigator: Sarah Theodoroff, PhD
VA RR&D, 2011 – 2014
Selected recent publications:
Theodoroff SM, Reavis KM, Griest SE, Carlson KF, Hammill TL, Henry JA. Decreased sound tolerance associated with blast exposure, Scientific Reports, 2019, 9:10204. https://rdcu.be/bKqZM
Theodoroff SM & Kaltenbach JA. The role of the brainstem in generating and modulating tinnitus, Am J Audiol, 2019, 28(1S):225-238.
Theodoroff SM, Stevens A, McMillan G, Pettersson D, Woodward W, Folmer RL. MRI verification of a 10-20 targeting protocol used during transcranial magnetic stimulation sessions for tinnitus, Brain Topography, 2018, 31(4):690-699.
Theodoroff SM, McMillan GP, Zaugg TL, Cheslock M, Roberts C, Henry JA. Randomized controlled trial of a novel device for tinnitus sound therapy during sleep, Am J Audiol, 2017 Dec 12;26(4):543-554
available online: http://journals.pubs.asha.org/journals.aspx
Folmer RL, Theodoroff SM. Hearing Protection Devices (HPD) should be used by recipients of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, J Clin Neurophysiol, 2017, Nov;34(6):552
Henry JA, McMillan G, Dann S, Bennett K, Griest S, Theodoroff SM, Silverman S, Saunders G. Tinnitus Management: Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Extended-Wear Hearing Devices, Conventional Hearing Devices, and Combination Devices, J Am Acad Audiol, 2017, 28(6):546-561
Theodoroff SM, Griest SE, Folmer RL. Transcranial magnetic stimulation for tinnitus: using the Tinnitus Functional Index to predict benefit in a randomized controlled trial, BMC Trials, 2017, Feb 9;18(1):64.
Brungart DS, Walden B, Cord M, Phatak S, Theodoroff SM, Griest S, Grant KW. Development and Validation of the Speech Reception in Noise (SPRINT) Test, Hear Res, 2017, (Epub ahead of print).
Gordon JS, Griest SE, Thielman EJ, Carlson KF, Helt WJ, Lewis MS, Blankenship C, Austin D, Theodoroff SM, Henry JA. Audiologic characteristics in a sample of recently-separated military Veterans: The Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology Study (NOISE Study), Hear Res, 2016, (Epub ahead of print).
Henry JA, Griest S, Austin D, Helt W, Gordon J, Thielman E, Theodoroff SM, Lewis MS, Blankenship C, Zaugg TL, Carlson K. Tinnitus Screener: Results from first 100 participants in epidemiology study, Am J Audiol, 2016, 25(2):153-160.
Theodoroff SM, Folmer RL. Hearing loss associated with long-term exposure to high-speech dental handpieces, Gen Dent, 2015, May-Jun;63(3):71-76.
Theodoroff SM, Lewis MS, Folmer RL, Henry JA, Carlson KF. Hearing Impairment and Tinnitus: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes in US Service Members and Veterans Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, Epidemiol Rev, 2015, 37(1):71-85
Theodoroff SM, Schuette A, Griest S, Henry JA. Individual patient factors associated with effective tinnitus treatment, J Am Acad Audiol, 2014, 25:631-643
Schmidt CJ, Kerns RD, Griest S, Theodoroff S, Pietrzak RH, Henry JA. Toward development of a tinnitus magnitude index, Ear Hear, 2014, Jul-Aug;35(4):476-84.
Henry JA, Roberts LE, Caspary DM, Theodoroff SM, Salvi RJ. Underlying Mechanisms of Tinnitus: Review and Clinical Implications, J Am Acad Audiol, 2014, Jan;25(1):5-22
Folmer RL, Theodoroff SM, Martin W, Shi Y. On the Horizon: Future Methods of Tinnitus Intervention, J Am Acad Audiol, 2014, Jan;25(1):106-125
Theodoroff SM, Folmer RL. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) as a Treatment for Chronic Tinnitus: A Critical Review, Otol Neurotol, 2013, Feb; 34(2):199-208
