OHRC Faculty Member

William Hal Martin, Ph.D.

Dr. Martin is Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Professor of Public Health & Preventive Medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. He directs four programs within the Oregon Hearing Research Center: the OHSU Tinnitus Clinic, Tinnitus Research Program, Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Services and the Dangerous Decibels® Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Prevention Program. Dr. Martin also serves as the Research Scientist in Residence at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Dr. Martin's career in hearing began at the University of California, Irvine, where he worked closely with Dr. Arnold Starr, studying the development of the auditory system in premature infants. He received his doctorate in Speech and Hearing Sciences with an emphasis in auditory neurophysiology from the University of California, San Francisco under Drs. Don Jewett and Michael Merzenich and had a Post-doctoral Fellowship in neurophysiology at the Technion in Haifa, Israel under Dr. Hillel Pratt. Prior to coming to OHSU, he was the Director of Audiology & Neuromonitoring and the Garfield Auditory Research Laboratory at Temple University in Philadelphia for 12 years.

Contact Information: William Martin, Ph.D., 1.503.494.7954

Research Interests

Dr. Martin's tinnitus research interests center on the neurobiology of tinnitus. He is fascinated by the brain's role in tinnitus. Research projects evaluating new techniques of treating tinnitus include studies:

  • Deep brain electrical stimulation
  • Pharmacological treatment of tinnitus and development of CNS drug delivery systems
  • Functional imaging of brain activity related to tinnitus

Dr. Martin also is deeply involved in health promotion research in the area of hearing loss and tinnitus prevention. Studies include:

  • Health communication theory applied to noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus prevention
  • Human factors in noise induced hearing loss in children and adolescents
  • Epidemiology of noise induced hearing loss
  • Hearing loss prevention in Native American communities

Dr. Martin clinical activities include tinnitus evaluation and management (including Tinnitus Retraining Therapy), electrodiagnostic services and he specializes in hearing evaluations of infants and children, and children with auditory neuropathies. He provided expert witness for litigation processes in the areas of tinnitus, hyperacusis, hearing loss, noise exposure, and intraoperative neurophysiology.

Professional Societies

American Academy of Audiology
American Auditory Society
American Society for Neurophysiological Monitoring
American Tinnitus Association
Association for Research in Otolaryngology
International Evoked Response Audiometry Study Group
International Society of Audiology
International Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Society
National Hearing Conservation Association

Selected Publications

  • Martin, W.H., Sobel, J.L., Griest, S.E., Howarth, L., Shi, Y-B. Noise induced hearing loss in children: Preventing the silent epidemic. J. Otology, 1(1), 11-21, 2006.
  • Shi, Y-B. and Martin, W.H. Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in tinnitus patients. J. Otology, 1(1), 36-40, 2006.
  • Folmer R.L., Carroll J.R., Rahim A., Shi Y., Martin W.H. Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on chronic tinnitus. Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 126:96-101, 2006.
  • Folmer, R.L. and Martin, W.H. Dangerous Decibels: Teaching children to prevent noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Hearing Health, 22(3):14-18, 2006.
  • Martin, W.H., Folmer, R.L. and Shi, Baker Y-B. Tinnitus and Sound. Soundscape: The Journal of Acoustic Ecology, 6(1): 15-17, 2005.
  • Folmer R.L., Martin W.H., Shi Y., Edlefsen L.L. Tinnitus Sound Therapies. In: Tyler RS (ed), Clinical Protocols for the Treatment of Tinnitus.
    • New York: Thieme Publishing, 2005.
  • Folmer, R.L, and Martin, W.H. Turn the tide on NIHL with Dangerous Decibels. Advance for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists, 14(47): 2004.
  • Folmer, R.L., Martin, W.H. and Shi, Y-B. Tinnitus: Questions to reveal the cause, answers to provide relief, Journal of Family Practice, 53(7): 532-540, 2004.
  • Folmer, R.L, and Martin, W.H. Turn the tide on NIHL with Dangerous Decibels. Advance for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists, 14(47): 2004.
  • Shi, Y-B., Binette, M., Martin, W.H., Pearson, J.M., Hart, R.A., Electrical Stimulation for Intraoperative Evaluation of Thoracic Pedicle Screw Placement, SPINE, 28(6): 601, 2003.
  • Martin, W.H. ASNM Position statement: Intraoperative monitoring of auditory evoked potentials. ASNM Monitor, 9(1): 49-60, 2002.
  • Martin, W.H. Dangerous Decibels™: Stop tinnitus before it starts. Voices of ATA, Newsletter of the American Tinnitus Association, 1(1): 2, 2002.
  • Martin, W.H. American Society for Neurophysiological Monitoring Fellow information. ASNM Monitor, 10:2, 9, 2002.
  • Martin, W.H. Dangerous Decibels™ - A new strategy for preventing noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Feedback, 13:3, 8-11, 44, 2002.
  • Griest, S.E., Martin, W.H., Dangerous Decibels™: Partnerships in public health. NCHA Spectrum, 19:4, 1, 4, 2002.
  • Martin, W.H. ATA-Funded tinnitus research: The quest for a cure. Part II Tinnitus Today, 27:2, 9-20, 2002
  • Martin, W.H. ATA-Funded tinnitus research: The quest for a cure. Tinnitus Today, 27:1, 11-12, 2002
  • Folmer R.L., Martin W.H., Stevens A.A. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of brain activity associated with tinnitus severity and residual inhibition. Proceedings of the Seventh International Tinnitus Seminar 2002, pp 131-135.
  • Folmer R.L., Griest S.E., Martin W.H. Characteristics of chronic tinnitus resulting from head or neck injuries. Proceedings of the Seventh International Tinnitus Seminar 2002, pp 92-98.
  • Folmer R.L., Griest S.E., Martin W.H. Co-symptoms that contribute to the severity of tinnitus or pain. Proceedings of the Seventh International Tinnitus Seminar 2002, pp 208-213.
  • Shi Y-B., Folmer R.L., Martin W.H. Management of tinnitus patients with medical causes: Case reports. Proceedings of the Seventh International Tinnitus Seminar 2002, supplement.
  • Martin W.H., Folmer R.L., Shi, Y-B. Assistive tinnitus devices and delivery methods for acoustical therapy. Proceedings of the Seventh International Tinnitus Seminar 2002, pp 182-185.
  • Folmer, R.L., Griest, S.E., Martin, W.H. Hearing conservation education programs for children: a review. J. of School Health, 72(2): 51-57, 2002
  • Martin, W.H., Shi, Y-B., Burchiel, K.J., and Anderson, V.C. Deep brain stimulation effects in patients with tinnitus. Submitted Hearing Research, 2002.
  • Martin, W.H. and Mishler, E.T. Intraoperative monitoring. In Katz, J (Ed.) Handbook of Clinical Audiology, 5th edition. pp. 323-348, 2002.
  • Scheluning, A.J. Jr. and Martin, W.H. Tinnitus. In Baily, B.J. (Ed.) Head & Neck Surgery-Otolaryngology, Third Edition. pp. 1925-1931, 2001.
  • Folmer, R.L, Griest, S.E., Martin, W.H. Chronic tinnitus as phantom auditory pain. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery, 124(4):394-400, 2001.
  • Folmer, R.L. and Martin, W.H. Characteristics of chronic tinnitus resulting from head or neck injuries. Neurology , Suppl 3:A35-36, 2001.
  • Isaacson, G., Martin, W.H. First branchial cleft cyst excision with electrophysiologic facial nerve localization. Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 126: 513-516, 2000.
  • Martin, W.H. and Holloway, S.I. Dangerous Decibels. Hearing Health. 16(5):40-42, 2000.
  • Shi, Y-B., and Martin, W.H. Deep brain stimulation for tinnitus. Neurology . 54(7)Suppl.3: A169, 2000.
  • Martin, W.H., Shi, Y-B., Burchiel, K.J., and Anderson, V.C. Deep brain stimulation effects on hearing function and tinnitus. In: Hazell, J. (Ed): Proceedings of the Sixth Intl. Tinnitus Seminar, RefineCatch Ltd, Bungay, Suffolk, 1999, pp 68-72.
  • Shi, Y-B. and Martin, W.H. Deep brain stimulation – a new treatment for tinnitus? In: Hazell, J. (Ed): Proceedings of the Sixth Intl. Tinnitus Seminar, RefineCatch Ltd, Bungay, Suffolk, 1999, pp 578-580.
  • Folmer , R.L, Griest, S.E., Meikle, M.B., Martin, W.H. Tinnitus severity, loudness and depression. Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surg. 121(1): 48-51, 1999.
  • Shi, Y-B. and Martin, W.H. ABR and DPOAE detection of cochlear damage by gentamicin. J. of Basic & Clinical Physiology & Pharmacology, 3(8): 141-155, 1997.
  • Shi, Y-B., Jiang, S., Gu, R., and Martin, W.H. Effects of short-term tone exposure on DPOAEs. Chinese J. of Otolaryngology, 32(1): 41-44, 1997
  • Martin, W.H. Spinal cord monitoring in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery. In Pizzutillo, P. (Ed.) Seminars in SPINE Surgery, Vol 10, Number 1, W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, March, 1997, p 29-40.
  • Hirsch, B.E., Durrant, J.D., Yetiser, S., Kamerer, D.B., and Martin, W.H. Localizing retrocochlear hearing loss. Am. J. of Otology, 17(4): 537-546, 1996.
  • Clements, D.H., Morledge, D.E., Martin, W.H., and Betz, R.R. Evoked and spontaneous electromyography to evaluate lumbo-sacral pedicle screw placement. SPINE, 21: 600-604, 1996.
  • Martin, W.H., Schwegler, J.W., Shi, Y-B., Pratt, H. and Adler, S. Developing an objective measurement tool for evaluating tinnitus: Spectral averaging. In: Reich, G.E. and Vernon, J.A. (Eds.): Proceedings of the Fifth Intl. Tinnitus Seminar, American Tinnitus Association, Portland, 1996, p 127-134.
  • Young, W.F., Morledge, D.E., Martin, W.H. and Park, K.B. Intraoperative stimulation of pedicle screws: A new method of verification of screw placement. Surgical Neurology , 44: 544-547, 1995.
  • Pratt, H., Bleich, N., and Martin, W.H. Short-latency visual evoked potentials to flashes from light-emitting diodes. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 96: 502-508, 1995.
  • Martin, W.H., Pratt, H., and Schwegler, J.W. The origin of the human auditory brainstem response wave II. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 96: 357-370, 1995.
  • Martin, W.H., Schwegler, J.W., Gleeson, A.L., and Shi, Y. New techniques in hearing assessment. In Isaacson, G. (Ed.) Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America; Pediatric Otology. Vol 27, Number 3, W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1994, p 487-509.
  • Pratt, H., Martin, W.H., Bleich, N., Zaaroor, M., and Schacham, S.E. A high intensity, goggle-mounted flash stimulator for short latency visual evoked potentials. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 92: 469-472, 1994.
  • Friss, H.E., Wavrek, D., Martin, W.H., and Wolfson, M.R. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials to hypercarbia in preterm infants. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 90: 331-336, 1994.
  • Durrant, J.D., Martin, W.H., Hirsch, B., and Schwegler, J.W. 3CLT ABR analyses in a human subject with unilateral extirpation of the inferior colliculus. Hearing Res., 72: 99-107, 1994.
  • Martin, W.H., Schwegler, J.W., Scheibelhoffer, J., and Ronis, M.L. Salicylate induced changes in cat auditory nerve activity. The Laryngoscope, 103:6, 600-604, 1993.
  • Rosenberg, S.I., Martin, W.H., Pratt, H., Schwegler, J.W., and Silverstein, H. A bipolar cochlear nerve recording technique: A preliminary report. Am. J. of Otology, 14:4, 362-368, 1993.
  • Tyrala, E.E., Legido, A. Wavrek, D. Cohen, A., Martin, W.H., Exposure to cocaine in utero does not affect brain stem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) in very low birthweight infant. Pediatric Res., 33:240A, 1993.
  • Tyrala, E.E., Legido, A., Wavrek, D., Cohen, A., and Martin, W.H. Serial brainstem auditory evoked responses in very low birthweight infants: Impact of pre- and postnatal risk factors. Pediatric Res., 33:240A, 1993.
  • Pratt, H., Martin, W.H., Schwegler, J.W., Rosenwasser, R.H., Rosenberg, S.I., and Flamm, E.S. Temporal correspondence of intracranial, cochlear and scalp-recorded human auditory nerve action potentials. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 84: 447-445, 1992.
  • Pratt, H., Martin, W.H., and Schwegler, J.W. Contralateral effects of cerebello-pontine angle exposure on human auditory brainstem evoked potentials. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 83: 151-161, 1992.
  • Durrant, J.D., Boston, J.R., and Martin, W.H. Correlation study of two-channel recordings of the brainstem auditory evoked potential. Ear and Hearing, 11:3, 215-221, 1990.
  • Martin W.H., Pratt, H., Gardi, J.N., Bleich, N., and Jewett, D.L. Stimulus intensity effects on cat and human planar-segments. In Silman, S., Parkhurst, C., Emmer, M.B., Silverman, C.A., Cherry, R., and Rubinstein, A. (Eds.): Proceedings of the Intl. Congress on Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials, Brooklyn College, New York, 1988, p 12.
  • Martin, W.H., Randolph, M.R., Jewett, D.L., and Gardi, J.N. Electrode position effects on the 3-channel Lissajous trajectory of the cat brainstem auditory evoked potentials. In Silman, S., Parkhurst, C., Emmer, M.B., Silverman, C.A., Cherry, R., and Rubinstein, A. (Eds.): Proceedings of the Intl. Congress on Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials, Brooklyn College, New York, 1988, p 11.
  • Gardi, J.N., Sininger, Y.S., Martin, W.H., Jewett, D.L., and Morledge, D.E. The 3-Channel Lissajous trajectory of the auditory brainstem response. VI. Effects of lesions in the cat. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 68: 360-376, 1987.
  • Jewett, D.L., Martin, W.H., Sininger, Y.S., and Gardi, J.N. The 3-channel Lissajous trajectory of the auditory brainstem response. I. Introduction and overview. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 68: 323-326, 1987.
  • Martin, W.H., Gardi, J.N., and Jewett, D.L. The 3-channel Lissajous trajectory of the auditory brainstem response. V. Effects of stimulus intensity in the cat. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 68: 349-359, 1987.
  • Martin W.H., Jewett, D.L., Randolph, M.G., Williston, J.S., and Gardi, J.N. The 3-channel Lissajous trajectory of the auditory brainstem response. IV. Effects of electrode position in the cat. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 68: 341-348, 1987.
  • Martin, W.H., Jewett, D.L., Williston, J.S., and Gardi, J.N. The 3-channel Lissajous trajectory of the auditory brainstem response. III. Formation, analysis, and reliability of planar-segments in the cat. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 68: 333-340, 1987.
  • Martin, W.H., Sininger, Y.S., Jewett, D.L., Gardi, J.N., and Morris, J.H. III. The 3-channel Lissajous trajectory of the auditory brainstem response. II. Methodology. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 68: 368-379, 1987.
  • Sininger, Y.S., Gardi, J.N., Morris, J.H. III, Martin, W.H., and Jewett, D.L. The 3-channel Lissajous trajectory of the auditory brainstem response. VII. Planar-segments in humans. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 68: 368-379, 1987.
  • Pratt, H., Martin, W.H., Bleich, N., Kaminer, M. and Har'El, Z. Application of the 3CLT of auditory brainstem evoked potentials to the question of generators. Audiology, 26: 188-196, 1987.
  • Pratt, H., Bleich, N., and Martin, W.H. Three-channel Lissajous trajectory of human auditory brainstem evoked potentials. III. Effects of Click Rate. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 63: 483-444, 1986.
  • Martin, W.H., Pratt, H., Bleich, N. Three-channel Lissajous trajectory of human auditory brainstem evoked potentials. II. Effects of click intensity. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 63: 54-61, 1986.
  • Pratt, H., Bleich, N., and Martin, W.H. Three-channel Lissajous trajectory of human auditory brainstem evoked potentials. I. Normative measures. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 61: 530-538, 1985.
  • Martin, W.H., Gardi, J.N., Randolph, M.G., and Sininger, Y. Three-dimensional auditory brainstem response recorded from the cat. Soc. for Neurosci. Abs., #265.3: 924, 1982.
  • Williston, J.S., Jewett, D.L., and Martin, W.H. Planar-curve analysis of three-channel auditory brainstem response: A preliminary report. Brain Res., 223, 181-184, 1981.
  • Gardi, J.N., Martin, W.H., and Jewett, D.L. Planar-curve analysis of auditory brain stem responses: preliminary observations. J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 68 (Suppl. 1): S19, 1980.
  • Martin W.H., Evoked auditory brainstem responses in pre-term infants., J. of the DCCD: Publications of the Council for Exceptional Children (DHEW), 1977.
  • Starr, A., Amlie, R.N., Martin, W.H., and Sanders, S. Development of auditory function in newborn infants revealed by auditory brainstem potentials. Pediatrics, 60: 831-839, 1977.