What is misophonia, and how is it different from tinnitus?

Misophonia is a strong negative reaction to specific everyday sounds. The sound itself is not necessarily loud, but it triggers an intense response such as irritation, anxiety, disgust, or anger.

Common triggers

• Chewing, lip smacking, or swallowing
• Breathing, sniffing, or throat clearing
• Pen clicking, tapping, or repetitive keyboard sounds
• Certain speech patterns or sibilant sounds

What makes it different from tinnitus and hyperacusis?

• Tinnitus is hearing a sound that is not coming from the outside world, such as ringing or buzzing.
• Hyperacusis is physical sound sensitivity where normal volumes feel uncomfortably loud or painful.
• Misophonia is a pattern based emotional and nervous system reaction to particular sounds, even when the volume is normal.

Is misophonia a hearing problem?

Not usually. Many people with misophonia have normal hearing tests. It is more about how the brain and body respond to certain cues, especially repetitive or human made sounds.

Can misophonia overlap with tinnitus or hyperacusis?

Yes. Some people experience more than one. For example, someone might have tinnitus plus hyperacusis, and also find certain trigger sounds unusually upsetting. The experiences are related but still distinct.

What can help?

• Understanding your triggers and the situations that make reactions worse, such as stress, fatigue, or feeling trapped
• Practical changes like increasing background sound in quiet environments or using ear protection only when truly needed
• Working with a clinician on coping strategies, such as graded exposure, CBT approaches, or nervous system calming skills

When to get checked

If sound sensitivity is severe, suddenly worse, or comes with ear pain, pressure, hearing changes, dizziness, or pulsatile tinnitus, it is worth getting assessed by an audiologist or a medical professional.