DO YOU FEEL INTENSE DISLIKE TO THE SOUND OF SOMEONE CHEWING FOOD?

Some people have strong dislike towards hearing certain repetitive sounds like lip smacking, throat clearing or chewing sound made by others. This condition is known as SELECTIVE SOUND SENSITIVITY SYNDROME or MISOPHONIA. 

WHAT  ARE THE CAUSES ? 

It could be  due to involvement of higher centers, like a problem of Central auditory( hearing) processing pathway, or abnormal activation of certain parts of the brain. It could also be  due to psychological conditioning to repetitive sounds or a defect in serotonin and  of dopamine utilization. Studies are going on to find further cause for this condition. 

WHAT ARE THE  FEATURES  ? 

Trigger factors  are sound produced by other persons, while eating, breathing, whistling, gum chewing, lip smacking, finger nail clipping or clicking top of a pen. These sounds will cause anger, disgust and irritation and the affected person will display avoidance behavior. Sometimes this will lead on to confrontation or the affected person will develop tics. Fewer times the person will try to cope with the situation by mimicking the sound. 

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT ? 

Audiological and sometimes mental health evaluation had to be done. Reassurance, educating the person including his or her family and counseling can be done. Cognitive behavioral therapy, sound therapy, tinnitus retraining therapy or wearing a headphone while the trigger factor is happening also useful. 

Hope this post was useful.