Research: applied cochlear mechanics; early diagnosis of hearing loss
Sumit Dhar studies hearing, hearing loss, and hearing healthcare. One major focus of his work is in understanding the physiology and biophysics related to sounds created in the inner ear (otoacoustic emissions). The sounds are recorded using small microphones placed in the ear in an attempt to understand the workings of the inner ear by analyzing them in various ways. He is also keenly interested in using these sounds to detect malfunction of the ear at the earliest. A second major focus is on hearing healthcare delivery. Dhar is interested in understanding why so few people seek hearing health care. Once barriers to access are identified, Dhar’s research group attempts to devise tools and methods to remove these barriers, thereby improving the affordability and accessibility of hearing health care.