Misophonia - Do certain sounds drive you mad?

Do certain sounds irritate or drive you crazy, but others seem to be fine with it? It can be a sign of misophonia, which is defined as a strong hatred for certain sounds. It is a disorder where specific sounds trigger unreasonable emotional or physiological responses. On hearing the sound, patients either get angry or annoyed or feel like running away. This condition is also called selective sound sensitivity syndrome.

Most people find noises made by others while eating, breathing, or chewing to be the triggers for misophonia. Some of the other sounds that act as a trigger are typing, finger-snapping, pen-tapping, and sound of the car wiper. In some cases, people with misophonia also have a similar reaction to repetitive actions.

Misophonia in ancient Greek means “hatred of sound.” A study that was conducted recently showed marked differences in the brain structure and the way their brain reacts to hearing trigger sounds on an MRI. In severe cases, these sounds can also cause a fight-or-flight response, which can lead to isolation, depression, and avoidance. As this condition was identified recently, there are no criteria for diagnosing this disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Some doctors are in support of including this condition under “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.”

What Are the Sounds That Trigger Misophonia?

There are various sounds that can trigger this, but the most common triggering sounds are:

1. Chewing.

2. Slurping.

3. Clearing the throat.

4. Smacking the lips together.

5. Breathing.

6. Sniffing.

7. Clocks ticking.

8. Typing.

9. Slamming the car doors.

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10. Sound of crickets and other insects.

Sometimes, the following visual triggers can also result in misophonia:

1. Foot wiggling.

2. Nose rubbing.

3. Nail-biting.

4. Hair twirling.

What Are the Symptoms of Misophonia?

Getting angry or becoming aggressive on hearing people make certain sounds is the characteristic sign of misophonia. Different people react to the sounds at different intensity. Some patients might get annoyed or irritates, while others may feel the need to run away. This condition can affect both men and women of any age, but symptoms usually develop during the teenage years.

These are the most common responses or symptoms of misophonia:

• Irritation.

• Anger.

• Disgust.

• Verbally or physically abusing the person making the sound.

• Throwing or breaking the object making noise (like a clock).

• Avoiding the person who is making the noise.

• Anxiousness.

• An urge to flee.

• Rage.

• Emotional distress.

• Hatred.

• Panic.

• Fear.

Even thinking about these sounds can trigger symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression in such individuals. Apart from the symptoms that are listed above, the triggering sounds can also cause the following physical reactions:

1. Muscle tightness.

2. Rise in blood pressure.

3. Rapid heartbeat.

4. A rise in body temperature.

Such patients avoid social gatherings, eat alone, do not go to restaurants, etc., which can lead to depression.

What Are the Causes of Misophonia?

People with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), anxiety disorder, and Tourette syndrome are found to be more prone to develop misophonia, but the exact cause is still not known. This condition also affects people with tinnitus, which is a condition that results in ringing or other sounds in your ears.

How Is Misophonia Diagnosed?

As of now, there are no standard diagnostic criteria for misophonia. For years, misophonia was misdiagnosed as with anxiety disorder, phobias, and mental conditions. The following unique characteristics can be used to distinguish misophonia from other conditions:

1. The symptoms of misophonia usually start between the ages of 9 and 12.

2. Women are more susceptible than men.

3. Such people have higher IQs.

4. New triggers can develop over time.

5. It often runs in families.

Misophonia has to be differentiated from hyperacusis (heightened sensitivity to particular sounds), which can be checked by an ENT surgeon.

Can Misophonia Be Treated?

There is no cure for this disorder, but the symptoms can be managed with the following treatment options:

• Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) - patients are taught how to tolerate different sounds better.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) - it helps recondition the patient to handle the negativity associated with triggering sounds. Listen to sounds of nature, waves, rain, etc., reduces the symptoms by 85 %.

• Counseling - counseling is done for both the patient and his or her family.

There are no medications available to treat misophonia, as of now. Most people feel better and can handle the condition with the help of these treatment options.

Home Remedies:

Here are some things that you can try to help relieve symptoms of misophonia:

1. Use headphones or earplugs to reduce trigger noises.

2. Perform relaxation exercises and meditation to reduce stress.

3. Sit away from other people in a restaurant and bus.

4. If you find it hard to manage sounds, then leave the place if possible.

5. Talk to your family and friends about the sounds that you do not like.

6. Maintaining sleep hygiene and having a proper sleep schedule is helpful.

7. Regular exercise.

8. Using sound protection or noise cancellation device when required.

Never ask a person with misophonia to just ignore the sounds and try to be fine with them, as it will not be of much help. This condition is similar to depression and needs proper management by a healthcare professional. If your child has this condition and if you are not sure how to help your kid, consult a psychiatrist online now.

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