Easily annoyed by noises like gum smacking or cereal slurping? There's a name for that.
If you've ever sat in a crowded movie theater and couldn't enjoy the film because the person next to you was munching too loudly on their popcorn, chances are others around you were bothered for the same reason. Ditto for if the sounds of dishes scraping, hinges squeaking or gum smacking bothers you or makes it difficult to concentrate. While it's normal for anyone to be annoyed by noises like these from time to time, if you experience an extreme reaction to them, you might have a disorder known as misophonia.
Here's what misophonia is, what causes it and how people who struggle with it best find relief.
What is misophonia?
Misophonia is a "strong dislike or hatred of specific sounds or noises," explains Juanita Guerra, PhD, a clinical psychologist based in New Rochelle, New York. Examples of such noises include heavy breathing, a dog barking, a dripping faucet, a pen clicking, a lawn mower, coughing, snoring or someone "mindlessly tapping their fingers on a table or their foot on the floor," says Guerra.
Such noises can trigger either emotional or physical responses in someone with misophonia. "Emotional reactions include feelings of anger, anxiety, disgust, panic, fear and over annoyance," says Joanne Broder, PhD, a media psychologist and fellow of the American Psychological Association. "Studied physical reactions include sweating, a desire to flee, shaking, muscle tightness, increase in body temperature, goosebumps and an increased heart rate and high blood pressure."
Reactions can range significantly, as "some people might have mild cases of misophonia while others are more severe," says Broder. She adds that responses can be amplified significantly if the disorder happens to someone already dealing with a different mental health condition such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and attention disorders.
Because misophonia is not well studied, Guerra says prevalence estimates range significantly and include everything as low as 1% to 2% of the population to as high as 20%.
Regardless of how common it is, difficulty tolerating sounds can have a negative impact on a person’s life in a variety of ways. "Individuals could either be missing out on opportunities and experiences as they avoid hearing certain sounds," says Broder, "or it might create conflict between them and the people making the triggering sounds."
What causes misophonia?
While there is significant ambiguity about what contributes to misophonia, "research shows that it's a brain-based disorder in which there is a disruption in the connectivity between the parts of the brain that process sounds and the body's fight-or-flight response," says Guerra. There are also likely structural differences in the brains of these individuals, such as there being more association between the areas of the brain that are responsible for sound and emotions, "which may account for the hypersensitivity to sounds."
Research suggests there may also be a link between misophonia and other brain-based disorders such as ADHD, Tourette syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, PTSD and borderline personality disorder. "There may also be a connection between misophonia and hearing-related conditions such as tinnitus," says Guerra.
"Family history of the disorder and genetics could also play a significant role of misophonia through learned behavior," adds Broder, "and environmental factors could contribute as well because of past trauma that might be associated with certain sounds."
Is misophonia treatable?
Though there are no medications specifically approved to treat misophonia, Broder says there are many practical solutions that are often recommended. These include wearing earplugs or headphones when in triggering environments, sitting away from other people when in public places, leaving an environment where a noise is causing a reaction or the use of white noise machines or apps to drown out or distract from the bothersome sounds.
Therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy might provide longer-lasting help. "Therapy can aid individuals in identifying their triggers and developing effective coping techniques to help them be less reactive," says Guerra.
And when it comes to helping friends or family members who are dealing with misophonia, "it's important not to judge or ridicule them because they could be feeling shame and embarrassment associated with it," says Broder. "Help them feel safe by seeking to understand their triggers and being mindful of them."