For sure most people have already experienced some ‘disliking’ sounds before. For example, the emergency sirens, high-pitched yellings, public space noises, etc. What’s about daily life sounds? From the snoring, sniffling, heavy breathing, a few people might be triggered into intense negative emotion such as rage or disgust (Salamon, 2023). This is a sign of misophonia.
What is Misophonia?
According to Kumar et al (2021), “misophonia is a common disorder characterized by the experience of strong negative emotions of anger and anxiety in response to certain everyday sounds” (para. 1). Most of the known triggers for misophonia are human-orofacial actions such as eating and chewing, including images and silent videos (Kumar et al, 2021).
Patients and causes
The cause of misophonia remains unknown, but an experiment with 15 members of the same family suggests a possible hereditary factor (Sanchez & Silva 2017). These 15 Caucasians with misophonia span across 3 generations, with more than half being women. The younger generations reported to have misophonia earlier than their parents, with the youngest starting at age 2. Surprisingly, 80% of the women with misophonia have all of their children also diagnosed with misophonia, suggesting this is a genetic disorder. According to a study published in 2023 by journal PLOS One, nearly one out of five adults experience similar conditions, with women responding more intensely than men (Salamon, 2023).
A separate research focusing more on severe cases of misophonia suggest that the disorder involves brain regions, including the mirror neuron system, orofacial motor area, and both auditory and visual cortex. These areas seem to respond to sensory stimulation associated with the production of trigger sounds, potentially causing the patients to unknowingly mirror the perceived action (Kumar et al, 2021). The study further suggests that extreme negative reactions occur in misophonia possibly due to a sense of loss of control, invasion of personal space, or interference with current goals and actions. Kumar et al (2021) also highlight that automatic mimicry of eating behavior is commonly learned within families since young age, which may explain why a family member usually becomes the initial source of sound triggers developing misophonia. This finding is consistent with Sanchez and Silva’s study (2017), where younger generations tend to experience misophonia earlier than their parents – suggesting environmental factors contribute to the disorder.
According to Cleveland Clinic, a worldwide nonprofit academic medical center and healthcare provider, about 50%-80% of reported misophonia patients are women (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.) The information page suggests brain structure differences, family history or genetics are causes of the disorder.
Cure and Prevention
Even though most people reported that misophonia has zero to minimal effect on their life (Sanchez & Silva 2017), many might encounter daily life struggles as residents in busy areas. There are people who cannot eat out at restaurants due to the eating noises, feeling uncomfortable in dark spaces which enhance hearing functions like in movie theater, etc – in some cases, misophonia can become socially impairing (Salamon, 2023). For the few severe situations, body reactions can include blood pressure increases, chest pressure or tightness, goosebumps, heart rate increases, or sweating (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). As misophonia is a lifelong condition, it could worsen or introduce chronic diseases.
Unfortunately, as the exact sources and causes of misophonia remain uncertain, there is no exact cure for it and therefore it is not officially recognized as a medical condition (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). Many patients are able to manage the condition using sound aversion methods like wearing earplugs or headphones, listening to white noise, practicing deep breath or muscle relaxation (Salamon, 2023).
It’s very important to not criticize behavioral symptoms (Salamon, 2023) as chances are that they are experiencing some medical conditions. Much of the older generation lived with misophonia all their life without getting treatment. Sadly, they resist going to doctors because of the stigma surrounding mental disorders. Although misophonia is still an unofficial disorder, many experts recognize the patterns. If you ever encounter someone potentially experiencing misophonia and thinking they have gone mad, it would be nice to tell them about the disorder, and suggest ways to manage the condition in daily life.
References
- Kumar, S., Dheerendra, P., Erfanian, M., Benzaquén, E., Sedley, W., Gander, P. E., Lad, M., Bamiou, D. E., & Griffiths, T. D. (2021). The motor basis for Misophonia. The Journal of Neuroscience, 41(26), 5762–5770. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0261-21.2021
- Misophonia: What it is, triggers, symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24460-misophonia
- Salamon, M. (2023, September 1). When everyday noises upset you. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/when-everyday-noises-upset-you
- Sanchez, T. G., & Silva, F. E. (2018). Familial misophonia or selective sound sensitivity syndrome : Evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance? Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 84(5), 553–559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2017.06.014
