Mary Ann Cheatham

Mary Ann Cheatham serves as a Research Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Northwestern University's School of Communication, and holds a Fellowship at the Hugh Knowles Center. Her research integrates cochlear physiology with clinical audiology through non-invasive methodologies.

Her educational foundation includes a PhD and MA in Auditory Sciences from Northwestern University, complemented by a BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Kansas. This academic trajectory positioned her at the forefront of hearing science research.

Dr. Cheatham's work centers on auditory neuroscience with specialized focus on cochlear mechanics, genetic hearing loss, and otoacoustic emission diagnostics. She pioneers the use of mouse models to investigate homologous genes responsible for human hereditary deafness (affecting 1 in 2000 births), particularly examining prestin-mediated outer hair cell electromotility and tectorial membrane function. Her research bridges basic science with clinical applications through the Hugh Knowles Center.

Analysis of her 2021-2023 publications reveals consistent emphasis on cochlear biomarker development and genetic mechanisms of hearing loss. She establishes distortion and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions as critical diagnostic tools while elucidating molecular regulators like Tbx2 in hair cell differentiation. Her work demonstrates how mouse models translate to human auditory pathologies.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Fellowship at the Hugh Knowles Center for hearing research

Through strategic collaborations with Feinberg School of Medicine investigators, Dr. Cheatham advances translational research in sensory physiology. Her position within Communication Sciences & Disorders creates unique pathways for converting cochlear mechanics discoveries into clinical practice, particularly regarding genetic hearing loss diagnostics and intervention strategies.

Her laboratory work operates at the intersection of the Hugh Knowles Center's research infrastructure and the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders' clinical facilities, utilizing advanced auditory brainstem response (ABR) and otoacoustic emission (OAE) measurement systems for both animal models and human-applicable protocols.