Misophonia

Strong emotional reactions to specific sounds, usually eating and breathing

Overview

Misophonia is a condition in which specific sounds, often chewing, lip smacking, breathing, sniffing, or repetitive tapping and clicking, provoke intense emotional and physical reactions such as anger, disgust, anxiety, and an urge to escape. Unlike hyperacusis, the problem is not loudness but the particular sound and often the person making it. The term was coined in 2001 by the researchers Pawel and Margaret Jastreboff. Symptoms usually begin in late childhood or early adolescence, and trigger sounds frequently come from family members. Brain imaging studies have suggested heightened connectivity between auditory and emotional and motor regions. A consensus definition was published in 2022, and the condition is not currently a separate diagnosis in major psychiatric classifications. Approaches under study include cognitive behavioural therapy, counterconditioning, and sound based strategies. Its impact varies widely, from mild irritation to significant disruption of family, school, and work life.