Terrin N. Tamati, PhD

What do you research, and what brought you to that area of study?

My research focuses on speech perception and communication, particularly in adults with hearing loss who use cochlear implants. I examine how auditory, cognitive, and social processes support speech understanding and develop tools to better assess outcomes in this population. I’ve always been fascinated by individual variability: specifically, why people vary so much in real-world listening environments and how we can leverage those insights to support speech communication, quality of life, and healthy aging.

What impact do you hope your research will have?

I hope to advance our understanding of real-world speech communication to create practical solutions and personalized clinical interventions for adults with hearing loss. By better understanding how auditory, cognitive, and social processes interact, my goal is to translate basic research into tools that improve everyday communication, protect cognitive health, and enhance overall quality of life across the lifespan.

What excites you about doing interdisciplinary research at OSU?

My research is inherently interdisciplinary, and OSU provides an excellent setting for it. Complex communication challenges can’t be solved within a single field, and I value the opportunity to collaborate with experts from different backgrounds and experiences to ask bigger questions and drive real-world impact.

What are you most proud of? (Can be personal or professional!)

Professionally, I'm proud of building a welcoming, supportive, and curious lab and mentoring the next generation of researchers. Plus, as an Ohioan and OSU alum, it's special to be back doing research where my academic career started. Being able to make a meaningful impact in my home state through my research and teaching is something I’m really proud of. (And when I’m off the clock, I enjoy exploring the Metro Parks and local trails with my husband and our dog!)