Contents:
- Medical Video: That's What Misophonia (Hatred Of Sound) Feels Like
- Why does misophonia occur?
- A voice that is a trigger for people with misophonia
- The reaction of people with misophonia when they hear certain sounds
- Impact caused
- Treatment of misophonia
Medical Video: That's What Misophonia (Hatred Of Sound) Feels Like
Are you eating together and the sound of people chewing makes you feel uncomfortable, even upset? You may experience a condition called misophonia. Misophonia comes from Greek, miso mean hate and phon means sound, so if interpreted literally misophonia means hate the sound.
Misophonia is a condition in which a person reacts to a specific sound and causes an automatic response (fight or flight response) These sounds usually come from other people's habits such as the sound of chewing, clicking on the tongue, whistling, and others. But those who experience the condition of the hypophonia are usually not disturbed by the sounds if they create their own voice.
Why does misophonia occur?
Psychological conditions that can last a lifetime such as misophonia for example, starting from the age of 9 to 13 years. There is no specific underlying event, misophonia can occur suddenly and just like that. Until now, there has been no explanation that can reveal the exact cause of why a person can suffer from misophonia. Several studies related to misophonia have been carried out. Jastreboff, a professor in the field of audiology and the first person to spark the concept of misophonia, states that there are similarities between misophonia and tinnitus. Both are associated with excessive connections that occur between the auditory system and the limbic system, giving rise to excessive reactions to certain sounds.
Quoted from the Washington Post, Natan Bauman, owner of the Connecticut Healing, Balance and Speech Center stated that there were nearly 100 people visiting his clinic related to misophonia. Patients suffering from misophonia usually have a negative association with certain types of sounds and tend to have impulsive reactions to these sounds.
Sound waves cause the bones in the center of our ears to vibrate, the ears will then convert sound into electrical signals that will be sent to the auditory nerve in the brain. After that the signal will go through two pathways, towards the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex. The pathway to the amygdala is rapid, for example when you suddenly hear a loud voice and you will involuntarily jump in surprise. Other paths take longer. Part medial prefrontal cortex more play a role in your emotions and interpretation of a voice. In those who suffer from misophonia, there is a possibility of damage medial prefrontal cortex.
A voice that is a trigger for people with misophonia
- A person's voice when eating or chewing
- The tongue clicked
- A person's voice plays a pen (sound clicking)
- Clock ticking sound
- Low frequency sound
- Sound of footsteps
- Whistle
- Sound coming from a squeezed plastic bag
- The sound of dogs barking
The reaction of people with misophonia when they hear certain sounds
Based on research carried out related to misophonia, there are some emotional reactions that result after people with misophonia hear a sound they don't like. Generally they will experience feelings:
- Uncomfortable
- Stressful and nervous
- Angry, frustrated
- Afraid
- Feeling annoyed and very disturbed
- Panic
- Being impatient
- Feel depressed and trapped in a bad situation
In this study, people with misophonia were also asked what questions they thought when the sounds that triggered the discomfort arose, some answered sometimes they wanted to hit the person who made a sound they didn't like, why did the person have to make a sound like that and why not immediately stop, not infrequently they also ask themselves why they should feel disturbed by the sound. In more severe cases, the reaction can be the desire to kill the source of the sound and maybe even a suicidal desire arises.
Impact caused
For those who suffer from misophonia, being in a crowd can cause discomfort because of the possibility of hearing voices they don't like. Misophonia sufferers may avoid eating together or eating separately from their family and relatives and shut themselves down and do not want to be involved in any social event. If left unchecked this can cause sufferers of misophonia to experience depression. More severe impacts can also occur, such as attacking someone who produces sounds that make them uncomfortable.
Treatment of misophonia
There is no specific treatment that can actually cure misophonia, but some types of therapy can help reduce symptoms of misophonia. Some clinics offer sound therapy combined with counseling by a psychologist. Some people who suffer from misophonia choose to use earplugs or listen to music using earphone if they have to be in a crowd that might cause a sound they don't like.
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