Is misophonia real?
Yes. Misophonia is a very real, multi-sensory disorder.
Misophonia is a sound-intolerance sensory disorder which was first presented as a unique condition in 2001 by Drs. Pawel and Margaret Jastreboff.
With misophonia, common sounds and, often, other stimuli associated with those sounds cause an abnormal and marked reaction in some people. Misophonia is complex and traverses the fields of audiology, psychology, neurobiology, and more. Recent studies have shown that the brains of people who experience misophonia process sensory input differently than typical brains.
Misophonia is often misunderstood. It is not a matter of preferences, but rather is a legitimate sensory disorder that can have a profound impact on one’s quality of life. Misophonia is involuntary, the way phobias and allergies cause involuntary reactions to benign stimuli.
In 2022, a Consensus Definition of Misophonia was published in the journal, Frontiers in Neuroscience. This Definition provides a foundational basis for understanding misophonia as a unique condition. The medical community is working on diagnostic criteria, a process which takes a lot of time and resources to achieve.
While awareness continues to grow, medical professionals recognize that it is a genuine condition.
Read More:
Why the Consensus Definition of Misophonia is Important [External Link: Medium.com]