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Hyperacusis Evaluation and Treatment
Patients experiencing sound sensitivity in Sandy Springs often come to ClearWorks looking for answers. Contrary to what some believe, hyperacusis is not "super-sonic" hearing. It is a decreased tolerance to sounds that most people experience as normal. Over time, someone with hyperacusis can also develop a genuine aversion to or fear of sound, known as phonophobia. Both hyperacusis and phonophobia respond well to specialized treatment. The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome tends to be.
Sound sensitivity and the brain
Like tinnitus, hyperacusis is not simply an ear problem. It is a brain response. Your auditory system has become hypersensitive to sound input, and the brain interprets normal sounds as threatening or uncomfortable. Treatment approaches that address this neurological component produce the most meaningful and lasting improvement. For patients who experience both sound sensitivity and tinnitus, these conditions often co-occur and are evaluated together. If certain specific sounds trigger a strong emotional reaction rather than general sensitivity, a misophonia evaluation may be the more relevant starting point.
About Dr. Katherine Pollard
Dr. Katherine Pollard is a tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia specialist who trained at the Emory Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Center under Drs. Pawel and Margaret Jastreboff, pioneers in tinnitus retraining therapy. She holds her Doctor of Audiology from the Arizona School of Health Sciences and is a founding member and past President of the Georgia Academy of Audiology.
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