(NC)-Sandra Trehub at the University of Toronto studies how people develop hearing and speech perception from infancy to adulthood. She has developed ways to measure hearing and speech perception in both quiet and noisy surroundings. This work leads her to believe that background noise interferes with children's abilities to understand natural speech. Trehub is comparing monolingual and bilingual kids under similar circumstances. She is also studying perception of musical and speech patterns by children with cochlear implants and by children with a genetic disorder that is associated with unusual talent in language and music. Trehub's work in this area may have far-reaching effects on issues related to hearing, learning and musical abilities in both children and adults.

Dr. Trehub's research is being funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). CIHR is Canada's preeminent health research catalyst and is funded by the government of Canada. An exciting new concept, CIHR is modernizing and transforming the health research enterprise in Canada.

To learn more about CIHR please visit: www.cihr.ca, e-mail: info@cihr.ca or write to: CIHR, 410 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa ON K1A 0W9.