User:Mysterymachine88/Misophonia

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Misophonia (or selective sound sensitivity syndrome, sound-rage) is a disorder of decreased tolerance to specific sounds or their associated stimuli, or cues. These cues, known as "triggers", are experienced as unpleasant or distressing and tend to evoke strong negative emotional, physiological, and behavioral responses that are not seen in most other people. Misophonia and misophonic symptoms can adversely affect the ability to achieve life goals and enjoy social situations. It was first recognized in 2001, though it is still not in the DSM-5 or any similar manual.

Reactions to trigger sounds range from annoyance to anger, with possible activation of the fight-or-flight response. Misophonia responses do not seem to be elicited by the loudness of the sound, but rather by its specific pattern or meaning to the hearer. Triggers are commonly repetitive stimuli and are primarily, but not exclusively, related to the human body, such as chewing, eating, smacking lips, slurping, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, and swallowing. Once a trigger stimulus is detected, people with misophonia may have difficulty distracting themselves from the stimulus and may experience suffering, distress, and/or impairment in social, occupational, or academic functioning. The expression of misophonia symptoms varies, as does the severity, which ranges from mild to severe. Some people with misophonia are aware that their reactions to misophonic triggers are disproportionate to the circumstances. Misophonia symptoms are typically first observed in childhood or early adolescence. '''Studies have shown that misophonia is a current problem to societal health and may cause issues in school, work, social life, and family. '''

Signs and symptoms[edit]
As of 2016, the literature on misophonia was limited. Some initial small studies showed that people with misophonia generally have strong negative feelings, thoughts, and physical reactions to specific sounds, which the literature calls "trigger sounds". These sounds usually appear quiet to others, but can seem loud to the person with misophonia, as if they can't hear anything except the sound. One study found that around 80% of the sounds were related to the mouth (e.g., eating, slurping, chewing or popping gum, whispering, whistling, nose sniffing) and around 60% were repetitive. But more recent research provides neural evidence for non-orofacial triggers. A visual trigger may develop related to the trigger sound, and a misophonic reaction can occur in the absence of a sound (examples include leg swinging, hair twirling, and finger pointing).

Reactions to triggers can range from mild (anxiety, discomfort, and/or disgust) to severe (rage, anger, hatred, panic, fear, and/or emotional distress). Reactions to the triggers can include aggression toward the origin of the sound, leaving, remaining in its presence but suffering, trying to block it or trying to mimic the sound. Reactions can also include physical responses such as increased heart rate, tightness in the chest and head, and hypertension.

The first misophonic reaction may occur when a person is young, often between the ages of 9 and 13, and can originate from someone in a close relationship, or a pet.

Fear and anxiety associated with trigger sounds can cause the person to avoid important social and other interactions that may expose them to these sounds. This avoidance and other behaviors can make it harder for people with this condition to achieve their goals and enjoy interpersonal interactions. It can also have a significant negative effect on their careers and relationships.

'''Combined studies have illustrated that 45% of misophonic cases became worse over time without treatment. '''

Epidemiology[edit]
Research is still being conducted on misophonia's global prevalence, but a 2023 study found its prevalence in the UK to be around 18%. This study has been cited in popular outlets, including BBC, Medscape, and Medical Xpress. Studies of misophonia's global prevalence have found it to be as low as 5% and as high as 20%. Its prevalence and severity seem to be similar across genders. '''In the US, it is extimated that 3% of people are affected by misophonia. However, in multiple studies, it was determined misophonia may be underdiagnosed as it is easily correlated with other auditory disruptions as 92% of patients who suffer from hyperawareness to sounds also have misophonia.'''

Society and culture[edit]
People who experience misophonia have formed online support groups.

In 2016, a documentary about the condition, Quiet Please, was released.

In 2020, a team of misophonia researchers received the Ig Nobel Prize in medicine "for diagnosing a long-unrecognized medical condition".

The 2022 film Tár depicts a conductor with misophonia.

Season 1, episode 4 of Hulu's The Old Man has a brief discussion of misophonia.

Epidemiology[edit]
Research is still being conducted on misophonia's global prevalence, but a 2023 study found its prevalence in the UK to be around 18%. This study has been cited in popular outlets, including BBC, Medscape, and Medical Xpress. Studies of misophonia's global prevalence have found it to be as low as 5% and as high as 20%. Its prevalence and severity seem to be similar across genders.

Management[edit]
Health care providers generally try to help people cope with misophonia by recognizing what the person is experiencing and working on coping strategies. A majority of smaller studies done on the subject have focused on the use of tinnitus retraining therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy, which is believed to decrease the person's awareness of their trigger sounds. These treatment approaches have not been sufficiently studied to determine their effectiveness. Other possible treatment options have been theorized by researchers, including acceptance-based approaches and mindfulness. Ultimately, it is speculated that treatment methods may vary significantly in effectiveness from patient to patient.

Minimal research has been conducted on the possible effects of neuromodulation and pharmacologic treatments. A study published in 2022 suggests that some forms of misophonia treatment may vary in effectiveness based on the preference of each patient, particularly in cases of parents with children who have misophonia.

While large-scale research has not yet been conducted, observation of coping strategies employed by people with misophonia has shown some consistent methods for coping with the condition.Persons with misophonia cope by avoiding distressing situations and/or distract themselves form these situations. These distractions include usage of earplugs and headphones, mimicking trigger sounds, and music.