If you’ve ever found yourself in a packed movie theater, unable to enjoy the film due to the loud munching of popcorn by your neighbor, chances are others nearby were equally bothered. The same goes for irritating sounds like scraping dishes, squeaky hinges, or incessant gum-smacking that can disrupt your concentration. While it’s normal to be annoyed by such noises on occasion, experiencing an extreme reaction to them could indicate a condition known as misophonia. Learn more about what misophonia entails, its potential causes, and how those affected can seek relief.
What is misophonia?
Misophonia is described as a “strong aversion or hatred towards specific sounds or noises,” according to Juanita Guerra, PhD, a clinical psychologist. Examples of triggering noises include heavy breathing, barking dogs, dripping faucets, clicking pens, lawn mowers, coughing, snoring, or even someone absentmindedly tapping their fingers or foot. These sounds can elicit emotional or physical responses in individuals with misophonia, such as anger, anxiety, disgust, panic, fear, annoyance, sweating, shaking, muscle tension, increased body temperature, goosebumps, elevated heart rate, and high blood pressure.
Reactions to misophonia can vary widely, with some experiencing mild cases while others have more severe symptoms, particularly if they are managing other mental health conditions like PTSD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, OCD, or attention disorders. Although estimates of its prevalence range from 1% to 20% of the population, the impact of sound intolerance on a person’s life can be significant, leading to missed opportunities or conflicts with those producing trigger sounds.
What causes misophonia?
While the exact causes of misophonia remain unclear, research suggests it is a brain-based disorder involving disrupted connectivity between sound processing areas and the body’s fight-or-flight response. Structural variances in the brains of individuals with misophonia, such as increased association between sound and emotion processing regions, may explain their hypersensitivity to noises. Additionally, misophonia may be linked to other brain-based conditions like ADHD, Tourette syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder, as well as hearing-related issues such as tinnitus.
Family history and genetics could also be contributing factors to the disorder.
“The role of misophonia can be influenced by learned behavior,” adds Broder, “and environmental factors may also contribute due to past trauma linked to specific sounds.” Explained: ADHD impacts hundreds of millions of individuals. Here’s what it entails, and what it does not. Is misophonia treatable? While there are no medications specifically approved for misophonia, Broder suggests several practical approaches often recommended. These include using earplugs or headphones in triggering environments, sitting away from others in public settings, leaving places where certain noises elicit reactions, or utilizing white noise machines or apps to mask or divert attention from bothersome sounds. Therapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy may offer more enduring support. “Therapy can help individuals identify triggers and develop effective coping strategies to reduce reactivity,” says Guerra. When assisting friends or family members coping with misophonia, Broder emphasizes the importance of not judging or ridiculing them, as they may experience feelings of shame and embarrassment. “By seeking to understand their triggers and being mindful of them, help them feel secure.” This article was originally published on USA TODAY: What is misophonia?
