Annoyed by Chewing Sounds? Doctors Say It’s an Actual Brain Condition

If the sound of loud chewing, pen clicking, or knuckle cracking drives you crazy, it’s not just your need for silence—it’s your brain at work.

A team from Newcastle University in the UK found that people who hate certain sounds, a condition called misophonia, have brains that react more strongly to these noises.

MRI scans showed that people with misophonia have an unusual emotional control system, which causes an intense reaction when they hear trigger sounds like heavy breathing. These noises can also cause physical responses, such as a faster heartbeat or sweating.

What the Study Found
The study involved 44 people, with about half of them having misophonia. Participants listened to three types of sounds:
– Neutral sounds, like rain or boiling water
– Unpleasant sounds, like screaming or crying
– Trigger sounds, like chewing or breathing

Researchers found abnormal brain connections in people with misophonia. They also found more myelination, the insulation of brain cells, in their brains. This shows there’s a physical difference in their brain structure.

For people whose friends or family think their reaction to certain sounds is just an annoyance, this discovery offers proof that misophonia is real.

Expert Insights
Dr. Sukhbinder Kumar, the lead researcher, said, “For many people with misophonia, this is good news. We’ve shown for the first time that their brains have structural and functional differences.”

He added, “People with misophonia show very similar symptoms, yet this condition is not recognized in any current medical guidelines. Our study shows important brain changes to convince skeptical doctors that this is a real disorder.”

Hope for the Future
The research team believes that further studies could lead to treatments to help people manage their reactions to these sounds.