Misophonia, or hatred of sound, was first identified in 2000 when Pawel Jastreboff, a neuroscientist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, found that some people had strong, negative reactions to specific sounds. Misophonia sufferers tend to focus on certain sounds to which they have a decreased tolerance, such as noises associated with eating, sniffling, or scratching. The offending sounds create a high level of anxiety and perturb the sufferer to the point of extreme avoidance.
While the exact cause of misophonia is unknown, there is some speculation that the cause may be the brain processing sound information incorrectly. Instead of processing sounds normally, the brain processes the sounds with increased intensity, or as a danger signal instead of a harmless noise. It is common for misophonia to be accompanied by hyperacusis, or sensitivity to sound, leading researchers to theorize that misophonia is caused by a neurological hearing condition.
Misophonia can have an extremely detrimental impact on patients’ lives. It can prevent sufferers from working and interacting socially, or from enjoying common activities of daily living. In extreme cases, decreased sound tolerance can totally control a patient’s life. In these instances, patients do not leave their homes. Their lives, and those of their families, are totally subjugated to the need to avoid the offending sound.
Because misophonia is a relatively unknown ear condition, it often goes undiagnosed. A diagnosis typically involves evaluating the patient’s feelings when exposed to sounds. The best treatment approach is one that includes both a hearing specialist and a psychiatrist. The hearing specialist treats the patient with tinnitus retraining therapy, using sound instruments that help desensitize the person to the sounds that aggravate them. An audiologist can also help reprogram the auditory processing center of the brain to associate the sounds with pleasant feelings. A psychiatrist treats any underlying psychological conditions like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or anxiety by helping the sufferer develop coping mechanisms to use when bothered by sounds. Treatment for misophonia can last anywhere from six months to eighteen months.
If you suspect someone you love has misophonia, help is available. The first step is a correct diagnosis of this hearing condition. Call your ear care professional for an appointment today, and you could start living a more normal life soon.