Misophonia

Also called: Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome

What Is Misophonia?

Misophonia is when hearing common sounds — like other people chewing or breathing — feels unpleasant and can be deeply upsetting. Hearing these sounds can make someone angry and want to leave the room.

This brain-based disorder seems to be more common in females. It often starts during the preteen years and lasts through adulthood. There’s no cure for misophonia (miss-so-FO-nee-uh) at this time, but therapy and other strategies can help people cope.

What Causes Misophonia?

Misophonia happens when the brain handles certain sounds in a way that triggers strong emotions. This seems to be due to the brain’s structure and its connections.

In people with misophonia, the areas of the brain that deal with processing sounds and the fight-or-flight response (how the body responds to stress) don't “talk” to each other properly. People also have more activity in parts of the brain that manage hearing, emotions, and memory. These differences make certain sounds feel intense and unpleasant.

Misophonia tends to be more common in people who have:

• brain differences like autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• mental health conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• a family member with misophonia

What Are the Signs & Symptoms?

With misophonia, a person’s brain and body often react to a sound the same way they would to something dangerous. Symptoms can include feeling angry, nervous, uneasy, scared, or disgusted. The person may sweat, get goosebumps, have chest tightness, and a faster heartbeat.

People with misophonia may leave when they hear the sound, talk to or yell at the person making the noise, or try to stop the sound.

Many different noises can trigger misophonia, including hearing other people:

• chew, crunch, slurp, or swallow when eating or drinking
• sniffle, breathe, or clear their throat
• tap a keyboard or pen, or use utensils (like forks and knives)
• crinkle plastic or paper

Sometimes seeing things like little repeated motions (for example, shaking a foot or fidgeting) can trigger misophonia.

Many times it’s a family member or good friend who makes the sound or action that disturbs someone. Doctors aren’t sure why. It’s rare for people with misophonia to be bothered by noises they make themselves.

Someone with misophonia might try to stay away from places where the irritating sounds can happen, like the dinner table, lunchrooms, or restaurants.

How Is Misophonia Diagnosed?

If you think your child has misophonia, go to the doctor or an audiologist (aw-dee-OL-uh-jist) — a health care provider who helps with hearing and balance problems. This person will ask about symptoms and give your child an exam and a hearing test.

Sometimes children may also see a therapist or psychologist.

How Is It Treated?

Misophonia treatment may include:

• Sound therapy or sound desensitization. This involves wearing a device on one or both ears that plays white noise (gentle background sounds like static or nature sounds like ocean waves). This may help kids have less of a reaction to triggering noises.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a kind of talk therapy that helps kids handle the stress that can happen with misophonia so bothersome noises feel less jarring. They may learn different coping methods like relaxation and meditation.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy. This treatment is usually for tinnitus (ringing in the ears) but some research shows that it can help misophonia, too. It combines counseling and sound therapy.
• Medicine. Some medicines may help with mental health problems like anxiety, which could ease misophonia.

How Is Misophonia Handled at School?

If your child has misophonia and sounds at school trigger the condition, talk with teachers. They may be able to make simple changes that can help.

Other options are an individualized education program (IEP) or a 504 plan. These outline goals and any support services that your child may need to succeed in school. To have an IEP, kids must have misophonia and another condition. Talk with your child’s teacher or doctor to learn more.

How Can Parents Help?

To help cope with the unpleasant effects of misophonia, encourage your child to:

• Get enough sleep and exercise. Also find ways to ease stress, like deep breathing.
• Wear headphones, earbuds, or earplugs to avoid trigger noises — but avoid overusing them. That could make your child more sensitive to certain sounds.
• Listen to white noise to drown out upsetting sounds. There are white noise machines and apps.

You can also:

• Make quiet spaces at home where your child won’t hear certain sounds.
• Do activities where the trigger noises won’t be heard as easily, like outside on a hike or bowling. Instead of eating at a restaurant, go on a picnic and spread out.
• Plan ahead. If your child wants to see a movie in the theater, for example, go when there aren’t many people and sit in the back row. Ask for hearing-assisted headphones.
• Talk with other family members about your child’s condition so they can learn how to help.
• Educate yourself. Visit sites like these for information and support, and share what you learn with your family:
  • Misophonia Association
  • soQuiet