We all get annoyed when someone near us won’t stop coughing, tapping their pen, or chewing with the mouth open (gag!) – but for some, that feeling is a lot more common (and much worse).
Psychologists have only recently coined a term for this phenomenon – ‘misophonia’ (literally meaning ‘hatred of sound’).
The US National Institute of Health defines it as “a chronic condition that causes intense emotional reactions to specific sounds”, but since it’s not officially listed as a medical diagnosis, people’s symptoms are often dismissed.
But researchers at the University of Iowa have published this study suggesting some people’s brains do actually respond differently to certain sounds.
Their study of 20 misophonia-affected adults compared with 22 people who did not have the disorder showed “classic signs of stress” (increased heart rate or sweaty palms) when sounds such as chewing or breathing were played.
This group also showed “unusual brain activity” – particularly in the parts that process emotion – when they heard the triggering sounds.
While this study is a starting point, science still has some work to do before the condition is universally recognised.
For now, if you’re struggling to keep it together when someone next to you starts chewing loudly, researchers say noise-cancelling headphones, listening to music on higher levels, mindful breathing, or just getting up and taking a brisk walk can all redirect attention and calm symptoms.
Or just tell them to close their mouth.
