by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
This thoughtful essay written by the board of Hyperacusis Research, Ltd. memorializes that organization’s late founder, Bryan Pollard.
Bryan and I served together on the board of the American Tinnitus Association from 2015-2018, but more importantly for me Bryan was the individual who encouraged me to join him in being a noise activist, trying to make the world a quieter place.
Bryan developed tinnitus and severe hyperacusis from a wood grinding machine used to pulverize tree trunks and limbs that had to be removed at his house.
When he was dissatisfied with the treatment he was receiving for his hyperacusis, and his doctors couldn’t provide answers to his questions, he started an organization to raise money for research into the causes of hyperacusis, because without understanding the nature of a disease, it’s hard to find treatment or a cure. As I am quoted in the essay, Bryan somehow moved the otolaryngology research community to begin a vigorous program of research on hyperacusis.
We hope the Hyperacusis Research board will be able to continue Bryan’s outstanding work.
Thanks to Yishane Lee at Hearing Health Foundation both for publishing this in memoriam piece, in her role as editor of Hearing Health Magazine, and for letting us know that it appeared in the current issue.
