If you have ever found yourself in a rage over someone clicking a pen, biting and chewing an apple, or breathing audibly, you may be one of many people experiencing misophonia.
Those with misophonia have an extreme intolerance, a hypersensitivity, to sounds or visual stimuli that are part of everyday life.
This condition, although noted and studied by neuroscientists, is not a recognized clinical diagnosis. It is sometimes called selective sound sensitivity syndrome, soft sound sensitivity syndrome, SSSS, 4S, phonophobia and hyperacusis. Misophonia, which means hatred of sound, is a term very descriptive of how those with this condition feel about what they hear or see.
Symptoms of Misophonia
People with misophonia, when triggered, report an emotional flood of panic or rage accompanied by a strong fight or flight response. Other symptoms are:
- ~ an adrenaline rush: pounding heart, flushed face, shaking
- ~ clenching of hands and jaw, muscle tension
- ~ an overwhelming desire to either attack or flee
- ~ an awareness that their reaction is unreasonable
This condition can be devastating to personal and work relationships if the emotional response is not understood. Those with severe misophonia sometimes isolate themselves to avoid triggering sights and sounds. Almost everyone with these symptoms, mild or severe, expresses guilt about having over-the-top reactions to events that do not seem to bother most people.
Types of Triggers
What causes a reaction in one person with misophonia will not necessarily trigger another. Some people are sensitive to many different triggers while others respond to a few.
- Vocal sounds such as muffled talking, humming, overused words or sounds (um, ah), whispery or gravelly voices.
- Breathing or nasal sounds such as sniffling, groaning, grunting, soft or loud breathing.
- Mouth and eating noises such as gum chewing, kissing sounds, crunching, slurping, silverware scraping on teeth, jaw clicking, smacking.
- Body movements such as cracking knuckles, foot shuffling or dragging, nail biting or clipping, flip flops.
- Visual stimuli without sound such as hair twirling, repetitive foot or body movements, fidgeting.
- Visual stimuli with sounds such as eating or chewing gum.
- Environmental stimuli such as gadget sounds, utensil sounds, wrappers crinkling, car sounds, muffled music or TV through walls, animal or insect noises, loud heavy equipment, loud music or TV, baby related noises.
Diagnostic Possibilities
Some researchers believe that misophonia should be classified as a separate psychiatric disorder with a standardized symptom list. This would increase recognition of the symptoms by healthcare providers and encourage more extensive research.
It has been suggested that misophonia be categorized as an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) because it involves similar psychological reactions and neurocircuitry (limbic and autonomic nervous system involvement), patient populations and treatment response. Another suggestion puts misophonia in the spectrum of autistic disorders.
However, some professionals view misophonia as an auditory problem – a fourth cousin of tinnitus – not a psychiatric one. There are also many who believe sensitivity to sound is a symptom (of something unspecified) and should not be classified as a disorder.
Treatment Options
No matter what scientists or doctors think of misophonia, those with symptoms are most likely concerned about finding relief and understanding.
People who have misophonia use ear plugs, white noise generators and mp3 players to help block out unwanted noise. Some individuals have been helped by cognitive behavioral therapy and neuro-feedback or hypnosis. Isolation is thought to worsen misophonia.
If you have symptoms, there are online forums and support groups you can join to receive encouragement and symptom management tips and to learn about helpful resources.
Sources: Misophonia.com and PLOS One
