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Misophonia

Written by Livia Farkas || First published: 3 July, 2023 | Last edited: 2 August, 2023 || 📚🕒 Reading Time: < 1 minutes

Misophonia is a neurodivergent condition characterized by an intense emotional and physiological response to specific sounds. People with misophonia experience strong negative reactions, such as anger, anxiety, or disgust, when exposed to certain sounds, often referred to as “trigger sounds.” These trigger sounds can vary from person to person but commonly include chewing, slurping, tapping, or repetitive noises.

What happens in a misophonic person’s brain?

The brain’s response to these trigger sounds is believed to be atypical in individuals with misophonia. It is thought that certain brain regions involved in processing emotions and sensory information become hyperactive, leading to an exaggerated response.

This heightened reaction can cause significant distress and interfere with daily functioning.

Individuals with misophonia often develop coping strategies to manage their symptoms, such as avoiding trigger sounds or using noise-cancelling headphones.

However, it is important to note that misophonia is not simply a dislike or annoyance towards certain sounds, but rather a genuine and involuntary aversion that can significantly impact one’s quality of life.

What causes misophonia?

While the exact cause of misophonia is still not fully understood, research suggests that it may have a genetic component and can co-occur with other neurodivergent conditions, such as ADHD or autism.

Related terms

Sensory avoiding

Sensory avoiding, also known as sensory under responsivity, refers to a pattern of behaviour where individuals actively try to avoid or minimize exposure to sensory stimuli. These individuals may have a heightened sensitivity to sensory input and may find certain sensations …

Read moreSensory avoiding

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity, also known as sensory over-responsivity, is a condition characterized by an extreme sensitivity or heightened response to sensory stimuli from the environment. Individuals with hypersensitivity may have a seemingly exaggerated reaction to various sensory inputs, …

Read moreHypersensitivity

Sensory meltdown

A feeling of immense distress, a sensory meltdown is a strong reaction to overwhelm caused by too much information, noise, sights or sounds, smells or touch.

Read moreSensory meltdown
This term is also known as:
misophonic disorder
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About the Author

  • Livia Farkas

    Livia Farkas

    Livia is a Neurodivergent Adaptation Educator with a sharp sense for simplifying complex ideas. Since 2008, she's developed 294 distinct techniques catered to the needs of clients. A total of 5058 alumni have enrolled in one or more of the 8 online courses she co-developed with Adam, offering neurodivergence-inclusive frameworks for time management, goal setting, self-care for mental health, and small-business management. Her life goal is to be a walking permission slip for neurodivergent adults. In her free time, she enjoys stickers & planners, crochet & roller skates, and running around with her pet bunny Rumi.

    View all posts

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