What is Misophonia? – Misophonia Support

Misophonia, often misunderstood or overlooked, is a neurophysiological disorder where specific sounds provoke intense emotional and physiological responses. The term was first introduced by audiologists Margaret and Pawel Jastreboff in 2001. Through their work, they noticed that some individuals reacted strongly to everyday sounds—such as chewing, tapping, or typing—triggering reactions far beyond annoyance or discomfort. They proposed that misophonia involved heightened arousal of the autonomic nervous system, sparking a “fight-or-flight” response. Unlike those with hyperacusis, who hear sounds more loudly, people with misophonia respond to repetitive, pattern-based sounds with severe irritation and anxiety.

Is there a treatment for misophonia?

There is no official “cure” for misophonia, nor is it recognized as a disorder or mental illness. However, clinicians and academic reseachers have been treating misophonia with coping skills approaches for two decades. Clinicians such as mental health professionals, audiologists, MDs, and other practitioners all offer various perspectives on coping with misophonia. The International Misophonia Foundation is also interested in conducting research on coping skills and treatments for misophonia, especially ones to help sufferers deal with the impact of misophonia on their everyday lives. Despite a lack of official “treatment”, misophonia is a condition that impacts numerous individuals and should be taken seriously. The IMF offers clinician trainings, classes for coping with misophonia, teen group classes, education materials and more. It is our hope that the resources for misophonia will grow over time and more novel treatment approaches will become known and thoroughly researched.

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Is there a treatment for misophonia?

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