Misophonia · What Is It, Causes, Signs, Symptoms, and More

Specific sounds that trigger a reaction include bodily sounds (e.g., lip smacking, chewing, and loud breathing), clicking sounds (e.g., typing on a keyboard, pens clicking, fingers tapping, or windshield wipers), and sounds associated with movement (e.g., fidgeting). 

Misophonia is sometimes expanded to include visual stimuli, with the image directly related to the trigger sound (e.g., watching someone else eat). It is distinct from phonophobia, also known as ligyrophobia or sonophobia, a specific phobia of loud sounds. Some individuals may even have misophonia-like reactions to repetitive visual movements (e.g., leg rocking), known as misokinesia or the hatred of movement. 

The cause of misophonia is currently unknown; however, many individuals often report that the onset of the disorder is associated with a profound disgust of hearing family members eating during childhood. This supports the theory that recurrent conditioning from the individual’s environment can lead to misophonia. 

Another theory is that misophonia is part of a general hyperreactivity syndrome to sensory stimuli, explaining why both auditory and visual stimuli can evoke a negative response. An electroencephalography (EEG) study found abnormal neuronal activation in the automatic auditory processing system within the auditory cortex in misophonia patients, which might underlie misophonia symptoms. Lastly, it is suggested that obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is associated with misophonia since those with OCPD can have difficulties coping with impolite eating sounds, eventually resulting in avoidance.

The signs and symptoms of misophonia include an immediate aversive physical reaction, such as irritation, disgust, anger, and loss of self-control in response to a misophonic stimulus, which can consist of someone chewing loudly, smacking their lips, or breathing loudly. Emotional responses are also accompanied by physiological changes, such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.  People with misophonia have reported being verbally or physically aggressive towards objects and others. 

The intensity of the anger usually leads to a feeling of loss of self-control. Individuals are typically insightful and may acknowledge their anger as excessive and unreasonable. Notably, anxiety is not experienced as a response to stimuli. Other signs include active avoidance of misophonic stimuli, including avoiding social situations or wearing noise-canceling headsets. Individuals may experience stress and discomfort daily in anticipation of an unexpected encounter with misophonic stimuli. Individuals assigned either male or female at birth can develop misophonia at any age, although symptoms typically begin in late childhood or early teenage years.

Misophonia does not currently have a cure; however, it can be managed through various coping strategies, which include listening to music, calming sounds, or white noise when exposed to misophonic stimuli. Additionally, individuals can try using noise-canceling headphones or asking the other individual to stop making the sounds. One can attempt to distance themselves physically from trigger sounds in public, on a bus, or at a restaurant. Additionally, individuals can try using noise-canceling headphones or asking the other individual to stop making the sounds.