Hearing sensitivity & Misophonia

What is misophonia and how to recognize it

We are constantly exposed to many types of sensory information in our daily lives.

Many of us are able to filter sounds, and this has no impact on our daily lives. However, certain audiovestibular conditions can make it impossible to filter out background noise, and sound sensitivity to noise can occur. A condition known as hyperacusis means that sounds of a certain decibel or pitch can trigger anxiety, often resulting in a fight-or-flight response. This can mean that a cycle of avoidance is put in place towards noise that can sustain the anxiety felt. For example, someone may avoid busy, noisy places where they expect to hear noise, or wear headphones, which can increase noise sensitivity in the long term. Hypervigilance to sound can also occur, meaning that sounds are often perceived as loudly as someone constantly expects to hear them.

The cause of hyperacusis is unknown, but may be associated with traumatic responses to sound stimuli due to hypervigilance. People with neurodevelopmental disorders with sensory sensitivities such as autism may also be more prone to hyperacusis. People suffering from hyperacusis may benefit from learning relaxation strategies to calm the nervous system, then slowly exposing themselves to sounds using a step-by-step approach.

The origins of misophonia 

Another lesser-known condition called "misophonia" is derived from the Greek words "misos" (hate) and "fonos" (sound). Misophonia involves an aversion to the specific sounds of others, such as coughing, drinking, eating and even typing on a keyboard. A person with misophonia may feel strong emotions when hearing these sounds and, as with hyperacusis, may experience a fight-or-flight response. Misophonia is usually associated with the sounds of those with whom one spends more time, such as family members or friends. People with misophonia often report having to eat alone or avoid other social contexts that involve eating and drinking. People with misophonia can often benefit from a systemic approach as misophonia often has systemic effects on other family members as well as learning relaxation techniques; emotional coping strategies and getting used to disliked sounds in a gradual approach via graded exposure.

 The effects of misophonia on the body

Tinnitus results from sensitivity to sound in the ear itself, and sufferers often experience ringing or buzzing in the ear. Some tinnitus sufferers also report hearing echoes of certain sounds after being around loud noises, and being in large rooms can be a trigger. Tinnitus can also be felt more in quieter environments where there are fewer distractions from other noises. Tinnitus can often cause distress and lead to difficulty in sleeping and concentrating. There are no known exact causes of tinnitus, but it is known to occur after accidents, trauma, illness, medical operations and long periods of stress.

Treating misophonia

Tinnitus treatment often involves learning relaxation, mindfulness and distraction techniques. Tinnitus sufferers may also benefit from certain sleep strategies if sleep is affected. There is currently no cure for tinnitus, but sufferers often experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of learning these management strategies. Tinnitus sufferers may also experience hyperacusis in certain situations.