Misophonia is not a hatred of sound, it’s just an abnormal sensitivity to specific kinds of sound. Apple crunching is classic. A DNA test will confirm if you have that specific gene combination.
Are you speaking as a medical professional? It's my understanding that what you describe, an abnormal sensitivity to sound, is called Hyperacusis, whilst sensitivity to sound with associated with anger is called misphonia. My daughter has misphonia (in the presence of noisy eaters) and it makes her angry with thoughts of violence. See this NHS article on hyperacusis which also mentions misphonia and anger https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hyperacusis/
Not a doctor but my wife has misophonia and feels rage when she hears people chew and she also has a genetic marker that 23andMe researchers identified as associated with feeling rage at the sound of other people chewing. This genetic marker is located near the TENM2 gene which is involved in brain development.
My understanding is that hypercusis is a disorder in the perception of loudness level. Misophonia, on the other hand, relates to specific types of sound and not their volume.
Very intersting information on genetics. Thanks for that.
Misophonia literally means hatred for sound, it comes from the Greek word miso = hatred and phonia = sound. It's not all sounds as you say, but specific sounds, specific to individuals, with the sound of other people eating being common.
My daughter literally hates the sound of people eating and it puts her into a rage, she feels she wants to hurt someone and often has to leave the room.
My wife is the same. She feels like hitting me if I bite into an apple. When I said it’s not a hatred of sound I meant that it is not all sound, just very specific kinds that seem to trigger a fight or flight reaction and often rage.
Agree, when my daughter was little it was my breathing that bothered her! She's got over that now, but transferred her misophonia to me and others eating noises! It is horrible because it affects her socially.
I would like to thank you both for the polite thread of comments. Not a common occurrence, which is why I usually refrain.
One aspect of the condition helps me explain to others that it is not a selfish, or self-centered obsession. I often cannot stand the sound of my own eating. I will become angry if I hear an unintentional smack or slurp that originates from me.
I wish I was as oblivious to this frustration as others seem to be.
Absolutely with you on this. Clicking jaws and talking while eating with an open mouth are in my list too. It’s out-effing-rageous. Not only is my field of vision being colonised, but the range of my nose is being violated and the crunch and smack of the mouth penetrating my ears has me nearly frothing at the mouth. Uncontrollable hatred for the offender. How dare he get into my audial space. As if he hasn’t taken over everything else! The expectation that he can do this without one scintilla of consideration for anyone else puts my hair on fire. It’s in the same box as expecting the world to bend around baseless pronoun announcements. So male.
Thank you! I loved this very human post, and totally agree. I have trained myself to become more tolerant of noise since I notice as I age how increasingly infuriated and upset I have become at others' eating habits. But do admit I would welcome homicide as a possible solution.
Eating and drinking are essential to human beings' life so no, they're not rude activities if done in public but you can eat less noisy items in small shared spaces like trains and similar. It's also better if you can chew with your mouth closed anything you eat. Smoking is better done alone or in open spaces where your smoke will not be inhaled indirectly and noticeably by others especially children. And you can join or create private clubs where people never eat and drink publicly in that space and they do it elsewhere.
And why is it always women schooling girls (not boys) in polite dining habits? As demonstrated in this scene from SISTERLY LOVE:
"The somber mealtime routine began at the head of the table with her father, Robert O’Flynn, giving thanks for the food before withdrawing into silent contemplation while her mother, Audrey O’Flynn, schooled Summer and Rose in dining etiquette from the other end of the table. The drill included instruction about the polite positioning of the knife and fork in the palm of the hand—rather than allowing the handle to “angrily protrude from your fist like a weapon, thank you, Summer!”—along with reminders about the horrific sight of children’s cheeks bulging with masticated food and the assault on adult ears caused by the smacking of children’s lips."
Have you been to Japan? You'd so love the train culture there. Although quiet eating is allowed on long trips. Noise cancelling headphones and or music you like might help. Good Luck.
Agreed! Once had a guy take about 2 hours to eat one bag of chips - very slowly, bit by bit and and took about half an hour to lick the bag, with every finger. Yuk!
I feel your pain, Julie!! It is a thing. Weirdly, I only feel it with a few particular people (who I love dearly!). If there aren’t other noises to distract me I actually feel homicidal 😭😂
Makes me want to come out of my skin. SO many times I've left theaters. It's not just people eating it's the way they eat now. Like absolute barnyard animals.
Misophonia is not a hatred of sound, it’s just an abnormal sensitivity to specific kinds of sound. Apple crunching is classic. A DNA test will confirm if you have that specific gene combination.
Are you speaking as a medical professional? It's my understanding that what you describe, an abnormal sensitivity to sound, is called Hyperacusis, whilst sensitivity to sound with associated with anger is called misphonia. My daughter has misphonia (in the presence of noisy eaters) and it makes her angry with thoughts of violence. See this NHS article on hyperacusis which also mentions misphonia and anger https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hyperacusis/
Misophonia not misphonia
Not a doctor but my wife has misophonia and feels rage when she hears people chew and she also has a genetic marker that 23andMe researchers identified as associated with feeling rage at the sound of other people chewing. This genetic marker is located near the TENM2 gene which is involved in brain development.
My understanding is that hypercusis is a disorder in the perception of loudness level. Misophonia, on the other hand, relates to specific types of sound and not their volume.
Very intersting information on genetics. Thanks for that.
Misophonia literally means hatred for sound, it comes from the Greek word miso = hatred and phonia = sound. It's not all sounds as you say, but specific sounds, specific to individuals, with the sound of other people eating being common.
My daughter literally hates the sound of people eating and it puts her into a rage, she feels she wants to hurt someone and often has to leave the room.
My wife is the same. She feels like hitting me if I bite into an apple. When I said it’s not a hatred of sound I meant that it is not all sound, just very specific kinds that seem to trigger a fight or flight reaction and often rage.
Agree, when my daughter was little it was my breathing that bothered her! She's got over that now, but transferred her misophonia to me and others eating noises! It is horrible because it affects her socially.
I would like to thank you both for the polite thread of comments. Not a common occurrence, which is why I usually refrain.
One aspect of the condition helps me explain to others that it is not a selfish, or self-centered obsession. I often cannot stand the sound of my own eating. I will become angry if I hear an unintentional smack or slurp that originates from me.
I wish I was as oblivious to this frustration as others seem to be.
Absolutely with you on this. Clicking jaws and talking while eating with an open mouth are in my list too. It’s out-effing-rageous. Not only is my field of vision being colonised, but the range of my nose is being violated and the crunch and smack of the mouth penetrating my ears has me nearly frothing at the mouth. Uncontrollable hatred for the offender. How dare he get into my audial space. As if he hasn’t taken over everything else! The expectation that he can do this without one scintilla of consideration for anyone else puts my hair on fire. It’s in the same box as expecting the world to bend around baseless pronoun announcements. So male.
Nah. You're just a huge baby, and your comparison to the pronoun stuff is just a really, really dumb comparison.
Julie I feel your pain. This is exactly how I feel. Cornflakes and soup are also on the list. It drives me to distraction.
Bring back the dining car
While quietly on our laptops, I leave the room after my husband sits down next to me with two long carrots and a stalk of celery.
Thank you! I loved this very human post, and totally agree. I have trained myself to become more tolerant of noise since I notice as I age how increasingly infuriated and upset I have become at others' eating habits. But do admit I would welcome homicide as a possible solution.
Have to agree. Eating drinking (and smoking) in public is rude and anti social.
Eating and drinking are essential to human beings' life so no, they're not rude activities if done in public but you can eat less noisy items in small shared spaces like trains and similar. It's also better if you can chew with your mouth closed anything you eat. Smoking is better done alone or in open spaces where your smoke will not be inhaled indirectly and noticeably by others especially children. And you can join or create private clubs where people never eat and drink publicly in that space and they do it elsewhere.
Teeth on cutlery ruins my appetite and makes me hate my dining companions.
And why is it always women schooling girls (not boys) in polite dining habits? As demonstrated in this scene from SISTERLY LOVE:
"The somber mealtime routine began at the head of the table with her father, Robert O’Flynn, giving thanks for the food before withdrawing into silent contemplation while her mother, Audrey O’Flynn, schooled Summer and Rose in dining etiquette from the other end of the table. The drill included instruction about the polite positioning of the knife and fork in the palm of the hand—rather than allowing the handle to “angrily protrude from your fist like a weapon, thank you, Summer!”—along with reminders about the horrific sight of children’s cheeks bulging with masticated food and the assault on adult ears caused by the smacking of children’s lips."
Great post Julie... enjoyed the laugh enormously!
Have you been to Japan? You'd so love the train culture there. Although quiet eating is allowed on long trips. Noise cancelling headphones and or music you like might help. Good Luck.
Earplugs.
and blind fold?
Agreed! Once had a guy take about 2 hours to eat one bag of chips - very slowly, bit by bit and and took about half an hour to lick the bag, with every finger. Yuk!
Totally with you on this!
I feel your pain, Julie!! It is a thing. Weirdly, I only feel it with a few particular people (who I love dearly!). If there aren’t other noises to distract me I actually feel homicidal 😭😂
Makes me want to come out of my skin. SO many times I've left theaters. It's not just people eating it's the way they eat now. Like absolute barnyard animals.
I choose quiet carriages and there's always people on their phones and with ringing phones as well as being noisy in general. So annoying