Misophonia Evaluation and Treatment
Do you experience certain sounds that don’t bother anyone else around you but trigger an over-the-top emotional response in you? If this is the case, you could be experiencing misophonia.
Misophonia, which literally means “the hatred of sound,” can trigger reactions ranging from anger and annoyance to panic and the need to flee. Sometimes called selective sound sensitivity syndrome, misophonia is relatively rare but may affect up to 20% of the population to some degree.
The over-the-top reactions that typically accompany misophonia have the potential to destroy relationships, leading to self-isolation, depression, anxiety, and other physical and mental disorders. Because of its similarities to hyperacusis and how the brain filters sounds, the condition is of particular interest to audiologists and its treatments are often similar to those used to manage tinnitus and hyperacusis.
If you’re struggling with misophonia, you may be wondering, “Is there someone who can evaluate and treat misophonia near me?”
Utah Ear Institute has you covered. Our hearing care professionals at our Bountiful, Tooele, Park City and West Valley City hearing and balance clinics understand your frustration with misophonia and can help provide answers and solutions to help manage it.
Misophonia, which literally means “the hatred of sound,” can trigger reactions ranging from anger and annoyance to panic and the need to flee. Sometimes called selective sound sensitivity syndrome, misophonia is relatively rare but may affect up to 20% of the population to some degree.
The over-the-top reactions that typically accompany misophonia have the potential to destroy relationships, leading to self-isolation, depression, anxiety, and other physical and mental disorders. Because of its similarities to hyperacusis and how the brain filters sounds, the condition is of particular interest to audiologists and its treatments are often similar to those used to manage tinnitus and hyperacusis.
If you’re struggling with misophonia, you may be wondering, “Is there someone who can evaluate and treat misophonia near me?”
Utah Ear Institute has you covered. Our hearing care professionals at our Bountiful, Tooele, Park City and West Valley City hearing and balance clinics understand your frustration with misophonia and can help provide answers and solutions to help manage it.
Misophonia, which literally means “the hatred of sound,” can trigger reactions ranging from anger and annoyance to panic and the need to flee. Sometimes called selective sound sensitivity syndrome, misophonia is relatively rare but may affect up to 20% of the population to some degree.
The over-the-top reactions that typically accompany misophonia have the potential to destroy relationships, leading to self-isolation, depression, anxiety, and other physical and mental disorders. Because of its similarities to hyperacusis and how the brain filters sounds, the condition is of particular interest to audiologists and its treatments are often similar to those used to manage tinnitus and hyperacusis.
If you’re struggling with misophonia, you may be wondering, “Is there someone who can evaluate and treat misophonia near me?”
Utah Ear Institute has you covered. Our hearing care professionals at our Bountiful, Tooele, Park City and West Valley City hearing and balance clinics understand your frustration with misophonia and can help provide answers and solutions to help manage it.
Misophonia and Its Causes
Misophonia is a relatively rare disorder that afflicts certain people and makes particular sounds nearly unbearable to them. It causes those who are triggered by certain sounds to experience increased sweating and a racing heart, cause anger or rage, or have the urge to flee from the sound.
While doctors aren’t sure of the exact cause of misophonia, many believe it relates to how your brain processes and reacts to sounds. Sometimes confused with other conditions, such as hyperacusis, anxiety, bipolar, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, it can occur with hearing loss or normal hearing.
Although a specific cause has not been identified, misophonia has unique characteristics, such as:
It tends to appear between the ages of 9 to 12.
Severe symptoms are more common among females.
Initial triggers often come from a parent or family member, but new triggers can develop over time.
It has a genetic component.
Misophonia and Its Causes
Misophonia is a relatively rare disorder that afflicts certain people and makes particular sounds nearly unbearable to them. It causes those who are triggered by certain sounds to experience increased sweating and a racing heart, cause anger or rage, or have the urge to flee from the sound.
While doctors aren’t sure of the exact cause of misophonia, many believe it relates to how your brain processes and reacts to sounds. Sometimes confused with other conditions, such as hyperacusis, anxiety, bipolar, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, it can occur with hearing loss or normal hearing.
Although a specific cause has not been identified, misophonia has unique characteristics, such as:
It tends to appear between the ages of 9 to 12.
Severe symptoms are more common among females.
Initial triggers often come from a parent or family member, but new triggers can develop over time.
It has a genetic component.
Misophonia and Its Causes
Misophonia is a relatively rare disorder that afflicts certain people and makes particular sounds nearly unbearable to them. It causes those who are triggered by certain sounds to experience increased sweating and a racing heart, cause anger or rage, or have the urge to flee from the sound.
While doctors aren’t sure of the exact cause of misophonia, many believe it relates to how your brain processes and reacts to sounds. Sometimes confused with other conditions, such as hyperacusis, anxiety, bipolar, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, it can occur with hearing loss or normal hearing.
Although a specific cause has not been identified, misophonia has unique characteristics, such as:
It tends to appear between the ages of 9 to 12.
Severe symptoms are more common among females.
Initial triggers often come from a parent or family member, but new triggers can develop over time.
It has a genetic component.
Because your ears are normal and your hearing is OK, the doctor may have trouble with a diagnosis, especially since it can occur on its own or along with other health, developmental, and psychiatric problems.
Those at a higher risk of developing misophonia also have conditions such as:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Anxiety disorders
Tourette syndrome
Tinnitus
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Because your ears are normal and your hearing is OK, the doctor may have trouble with a diagnosis, especially since it can occur on its own or along with other health, developmental, and psychiatric problems.
Those at a higher risk of developing misophonia also have conditions such as:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Anxiety disorders
Tourette syndrome
Tinnitus
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Because your ears are normal and your hearing is OK, the doctor may have trouble with a diagnosis, especially since it can occur on its own or along with other health, developmental, and psychiatric problems.
Those at a higher risk of developing misophonia also have conditions such as:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Anxiety disorders
Tourette syndrome
Tinnitus
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Misophonia Signs and Symptoms
Typically recognized by its main symptom, a strong negative reaction when hearing triggering sounds, misophonia can also include mild symptoms like anxiety, discomfort, disgust. Severe symptoms can include:
Rage
Persistent sadness and caused by sound sensitivity.
Hatred
Heightened fear or panic in anticipation of everyday sounds.
Panic
Sharp or aching discomfort triggered by normal sound levels.
Fear
Spinning sensations or imbalance following sound exposure.
Misophonia Signs and Symptoms
Typically recognized by its main symptom, a strong negative reaction when hearing triggering sounds, misophonia can also include mild symptoms like anxiety, discomfort, disgust. Severe symptoms can include:
Rage
Persistent sadness and caused by sound sensitivity.
Hatred
Heightened fear or panic in anticipation of everyday sounds.
Panic
Sharp or aching discomfort triggered by normal sound levels.
Fear
Spinning sensations or imbalance following sound exposure.
Misophonia Signs and Symptoms
Typically recognized by its main symptom, a strong negative reaction when hearing triggering sounds, misophonia can also include mild symptoms like anxiety, discomfort, disgust. Severe symptoms can include:
Rage
Persistent sadness and caused by sound sensitivity.
Hatred
Heightened fear or panic in anticipation of everyday sounds.
Panic
Sharp or aching discomfort triggered by normal sound levels.
Fear
Spinning sensations or imbalance following sound exposure.
Misophonia Evaluation
and Treatment
There are currently no established diagnostic criteria for misophonia, and the condition is not recognized as an official diagnosis. However, proposed characteristics of misophonia that are useful in its evaluation include:
Anticipating that a certain sound will result in irritation, anger, or disgust
Feelings of anger initiating a loss of control
Avoidance of known triggering sounds or tolerating these sounds with extreme anger, discomfort, or disgust
Significant distress that interferes with normal daily activities
These feelings are not better explained by another mental disorder or medical condition
Misophonia Evaluation
and Treatment
There are currently no established diagnostic criteria for misophonia, and the condition is not recognized as an official diagnosis. However, proposed characteristics of misophonia that are useful in its evaluation include:
Anticipating that a certain sound will result in irritation, anger, or disgust
Feelings of anger initiating a loss of control
Avoidance of known triggering sounds or tolerating these sounds with extreme anger, discomfort, or disgust
Significant distress that interferes with normal daily activities
These feelings are not better explained by another mental disorder or medical condition
Misophonia Evaluation
and Treatment
There are currently no established diagnostic criteria for misophonia, and the condition is not recognized as an official diagnosis. However, proposed characteristics of misophonia that are useful in its evaluation include:
Anticipating that a certain sound will result in irritation, anger, or disgust
Feelings of anger initiating a loss of control
Avoidance of known triggering sounds or tolerating these sounds with extreme anger, discomfort, or disgust
Significant distress that interferes with normal daily activities
These feelings are not better explained by another mental disorder or medical condition
Types of Treatment
Various types of treatment used to treat misophonia
Hyperacusis Activities Treatment (HAT)
This treatment is a modification of tinnitus activities treatment, which seeks to help the patient recognize the relationship between the loudness of a sound and his or her reaction to it. The same approach uses shared decision making rather than directive counseling to evaluate thoughts and emotions regarding triggering sounds.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Initially developed to treat tinnitus, TRT uses a combination of broadband noise and counseling to treat misophonia. The counseling presumes that central auditory gain is the primary mechanism of misophonia, which leads to feelings of fear and/or annoyance from sound, and then applies directive counseling.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is conducted by a psychologist and can be an effective supplemental treatment. When applied to misophonia, CBT is similar to the counseling that accompanies Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. The common theme in these approaches relates to changing maladaptive thought patterns in order to change behavior patterns. Using CBT for misophonia, the emphasis is on confronting sound rather than avoiding sound.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
On the other hand, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) involves learning to manage emotions through techniques such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy techniques that can help manage the emotional response to triggering sounds may include:
Using noise-canceling headphones
Listening to music, calming sounds, or white noise
Distracting yourself with a calming mantra or affirmation
To make this most effective, the person experiencing misophonia would use headphones that do not completely block outside sounds so that they can still hear over the ambient noise. The goal is to add background sounds to your environment and avoid silence so that triggering sounds are not as loud or blend in with the white noise sounds, making them less intrusive.
Types of Treatment
Various types of treatment used to treat misophonia
Hyperacusis Activities Treatment (HAT)
This treatment is a modification of tinnitus activities treatment, which seeks to help the patient recognize the relationship between the loudness of a sound and his or her reaction to it. The same approach uses shared decision making rather than directive counseling to evaluate thoughts and emotions regarding triggering sounds.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Initially developed to treat tinnitus, TRT uses a combination of broadband noise and counseling to treat misophonia. The counseling presumes that central auditory gain is the primary mechanism of misophonia, which leads to feelings of fear and/or annoyance from sound, and then applies directive counseling.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is conducted by a psychologist and can be an effective supplemental treatment. When applied to misophonia, CBT is similar to the counseling that accompanies Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. The common theme in these approaches relates to changing maladaptive thought patterns in order to change behavior patterns. Using CBT for misophonia, the emphasis is on confronting sound rather than avoiding sound.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
On the other hand, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) involves learning to manage emotions through techniques such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy techniques that can help manage the emotional response to triggering sounds may include:
Using noise-canceling headphones
Listening to music, calming sounds, or white noise
Distracting yourself with a calming mantra or affirmation
To make this most effective, the person experiencing misophonia would use headphones that do not completely block outside sounds so that they can still hear over the ambient noise. The goal is to add background sounds to your environment and avoid silence so that triggering sounds are not as loud or blend in with the white noise sounds, making them less intrusive.
Types of Treatment
Various types of treatment used to treat misophonia
Hyperacusis Activities Treatment (HAT)
This treatment is a modification of tinnitus activities treatment, which seeks to help the patient recognize the relationship between the loudness of a sound and his or her reaction to it. The same approach uses shared decision making rather than directive counseling to evaluate thoughts and emotions regarding triggering sounds.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Initially developed to treat tinnitus, TRT uses a combination of broadband noise and counseling to treat misophonia. The counseling presumes that central auditory gain is the primary mechanism of misophonia, which leads to feelings of fear and/or annoyance from sound, and then applies directive counseling.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is conducted by a psychologist and can be an effective supplemental treatment. When applied to misophonia, CBT is similar to the counseling that accompanies Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. The common theme in these approaches relates to changing maladaptive thought patterns in order to change behavior patterns. Using CBT for misophonia, the emphasis is on confronting sound rather than avoiding sound.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
On the other hand, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) involves learning to manage emotions through techniques such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy techniques that can help manage the emotional response to triggering sounds may include:
Using noise-canceling headphones
Listening to music, calming sounds, or white noise
Distracting yourself with a calming mantra or affirmation
To make this most effective, the person experiencing misophonia would use headphones that do not completely block outside sounds so that they can still hear over the ambient noise. The goal is to add background sounds to your environment and avoid silence so that triggering sounds are not as loud or blend in with the white noise sounds, making them less intrusive.
Frequently Asked Questions about Misophonia
If you have any other questions, please email us.
Is misophonia common?
Can misophonia be treated?
Will misophonia go away on its own?
How do you develop misophonia?
What triggers misophonia?
What to do if I have misophonia?
Frequently Asked Questions about Misophonia
If you have any other questions, please email us.
Is misophonia common?
Can misophonia be treated?
Will misophonia go away on its own?
How do you develop misophonia?
What triggers misophonia?
What to do if I have misophonia?
Frequently Asked Questions about Misophonia
If you have any other questions, please email us.
Is misophonia common?
Can misophonia be treated?
Will misophonia go away on its own?
How do you develop misophonia?
What triggers misophonia?
What to do if I have misophonia?
What Our Delighted Patients Say
Hear from our delighted patients about their experience at Utah Ear Institute
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Steve H.
“You won’t regret going.”
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What Our Delighted Patients Say
Hear from our delighted patients about their experience at Utah Ear Institute
“Give them a try.”
Steve H.
“You won’t regret going.”
Alicia F.
“I can understand better.”
Kim H.
What Our Delighted Patients Say
Hear from our delighted patients about their experience at Utah Ear Institute
“Give them a try.”
Steve H.
“You won’t regret going.”
Alicia F.
“I can understand better.”
Kim H.
Schedule a Hearing Assessment
Before your condition deteriorates further, leading to additional negative physical and mental conditions, seek the help of our licensed professional audiologists at Utah Ear Institute for counseling and treatment for presbycusis.
Just submit the adjacent form so a member of our team can give you a call and help you start the process by scheduling a hearing assessment.
Schedule a Hearing Assessment
Before your condition deteriorates further, leading to additional negative physical and mental conditions, seek the help of our licensed professional audiologists at Utah Ear Institute for counseling and treatment for presbycusis.
Just submit the adjacent form so a member of our team can give you a call and help you start the process by scheduling a hearing assessment.
Schedule a Hearing Assessment
Before your condition deteriorates further, leading to additional negative physical and mental conditions, seek the help of our licensed professional audiologists at Utah Ear Institute for counseling and treatment for presbycusis.
Just submit the adjacent form so a member of our team can give you a call and help you start the process by scheduling a hearing assessment.
Ask Dr. Josh
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Ask Dr. Josh
Our latest hearing health articles, resources & blogs
Hear What Matters: Embrace Advanced Solutions for High-Frequency Hearing Loss
Experience the richness of every conversation by starting with a comprehensive hearing assessment at Utah Ear Institute.
Rediscovering the Symphony of Life: Enhancing Your Hearing Health
Hearing loss is not just an isolated inconvenience; it can majorly affect communication, relationships, and even your mental well-being.
Your Hearing Health Matters: Dennis’s Journey at Utah Ear Institute
Dennis, like many individuals approaching their later years, found himself facing the quiet encroachment of hearing loss.
Ask Dr. Josh
Our latest hearing health articles, resources & blogs
Hear What Matters: Embrace Advanced Solutions for High-Frequency Hearing Loss
Experience the richness of every conversation by starting with a comprehensive hearing assessment at Utah Ear Institute.
Rediscovering the Symphony of Life: Enhancing Your Hearing Health
Hearing loss is not just an isolated inconvenience; it can majorly affect communication, relationships, and even your mental well-being.
Your Hearing Health Matters: Dennis’s Journey at Utah Ear Institute
Dennis, like many individuals approaching their later years, found himself facing the quiet encroachment of hearing loss.