The Phonophobia Is defined as fear, anger or anxiety when hearing certain sounds that are not strong, trigger very negative emotions in those who suffer from this condition.
Some researchers believe that phonophobia is an extreme case of Misofonía , The irritability that appears in some people when they hear certain common noises, like the chewing or the clearing of a person.
Fortunately, there are effective treatments. Do you want to know more about phonophobia and misofia? Continue reading please.
Characteristics of phonophobia
Phonophobia is an irrational fear of certain noises, which are not necessarily loud noises. It is not a hearing disease: people with phonophobia have a anxiety disorder .
For example, if you start to sweat and your heart beats fast when you hear someone chewing a gum, or when the cutlery makes a noise when they hit the plate, then maybe you have phonophobia.
A very real problem
Phonophobia was recognized as a disease recently. Many doctors are still unaware of it and therefore can not properly diagnose it.
For this reason, perhaps many will tell you that your problem is not"real", that your phobia is simply a suggestion, a bad run that plays your mind.
However, phonophobia is a very real problem and researchers have proved it.
A researcher at the University of California at San Diego conducted a very interesting study on this disease, placing electrodes on the skin of people with phonophobia.
When you feel anxiety, the sweat glands Of the skin increase its excretion and the electrical conductivity of the skin increases, thanks to the electrolytes present in the sweat.
To this group of people with phonophobia electrodes were placed on the skin to measure their conductivity and they were made to hear a series of sounds.
The conductivity of their skin increased, because the sounds actually caused a physiological response in their bodies.
In conclusion, phonophobia does exist, it is not A suggestion , Because the body actually reacts in certain way to certain sound stimuli in people suffering from this disease.
Symptoms of phonophobia
Here are some of the most common symptoms:
- Disgust.
- Anger.
- Irritability.
- Anxiety .
- Pain.
- Stress.
- You have tachycardia.
- You sweat your hands and...
- Avoid crowded and noisy places.
Low tolerance to sound: hyperacusis, misophonia and phonophobia
As you have already read in previous paragraphs, if you are irritated by the noise that some people make when chewing, the clink of cutlery, the voices of certain people or the noise of a photocopier, then you have misofonia.
Yes Negative emotions That these sounds provoke you include extreme anxiety, sweating in the hands, tachycardia and desires to flee, then this is phonophobia.
Both conditions are characterized by low tolerance to sound, as well as hyperacusis, although it should be noted that hyperacusis is a totally different disease.
Here are the differences:
Hyperacusis occurs when they bother you or you are afraid of loud noises such as fireworks or a balloon exploding for example.
If you have hyperacusis, when you turn on the TV or the home theater you will first lower the volume to the minimum, then turn the device on and then turn up the volume to avoid sudden noise.
You'll probably avoid going to parties where loud music, drums or fireworks.
When there is hyperacusis, it is possible that there is an alteration in the perception of sound: the auditory pathways are more sensitive than other people, they react exaggeratedly to the loud noises and that is why they irritate you so much.
On the other hand, if you have misofonia you are disturbed by certain noises that are not necessarily strong, sharp or serious, but can be any sound, such as the noise that comes from clicking the tongue, the murmur of running water, the sizzle of A campfire, or almost anything else.
In cases of misoponia or phonophobia there is no hypersensitivity in the auditory pathways, there is only an association of negative emotions, which may include extreme anxiety and fear, in the presence of certain sounds.
It is important to note that many people with hyperacusis may develop, secondarily, misofonia or phonophobia, because they also begin to associate strong sounds with negative emotions due to the hypersensitivity of their auditory pathways.
Causes of Phonophobia
It is not yet known exactly why the auditory pathways of some people are extremely sensitive to loud sounds or why others associate negative emotions and feel anxious when they hear certain sounds, even if they do not have a special sensitivity in their auditory pathways.
In the case of hyperacusis, it is believed that chronic exposure to noisy environments or a traumatic experience associated with loud noises may cause hypersensitivity of the auditory pathways.
In the case of misophonia or phonophobia, the trigger can be a traumatic event that has been associated with a certain sound, such as changing jobs or school and having to have lunch in a noisy environment, move and listen to sounds in a new neighborhood , etc.
Phonophobia can also have organic causes. A skull surgery, especially if it is near the ear, Migraine , Autism Or certain genetic diseases can also cause phonophobia.
How these conditions can influence your life
Many people suffer from hyperacusis, misofia or phonophobia, and this can have a very negative impact on their lives.
Most people try to avoid the sounds that annoy them, irritate them or cause them anxiety.
But think about the following:
If you have phonophobia and you are extremely irritated by the clatter of silverware, then you will have serious problems going to a restaurant.
There are those who loathe the noise when chewing (especially if it is done by a relative or a close friend) who no longer tolerate sharing a lunch or dinner together.
Thus, low tolerance to sound can affect your family life, your work and your social life. Even if you have moderate intolerance to certain sounds you may have trouble driving your car in the city center, going to the cinema or the mall.
If you are disturbed by the noises of the vacuum cleaner, the hair dryer or the lawn mower, your low tolerance for sounds will not leave you alone even in your home.
Diagnosis of phonophobia, misofonia and hyperacusis
These diseases are similar to each other and it is difficult to make a differential diagnosis.
It is possible to perform a test exposing the patient to different sounds, and checking their level of displeasure before each of them.
Patients with hyperacusis typically show increased discomfort as the decibels increase.
But this may not happen in patients with misofonia or phonophobia. Therefore, it is necessary to combine several tools to arrive at a correct diagnosis.
The implementation of an audiogram and a thorough questionnaire to the patient, which should be requested a detailed description of their symptoms, can be combined with the sound tolerance test to determine which of these diseases the patient suffers.
Treatments for phonophobia
Phonophobia and other conditions that involve low tolerance to sound are still not well known and there are doctors who do not know how to handle them.
Maybe you consulted and the doctor told you that there was nothing to do about it, or worse, to avoid the sounds that bother you or put earplugs in your ears.
However, you have to know that avoiding the noises that irritate you or cause you anxiety is not going to solve your problem. Do not go there avoiding all kinds of celebrations, parties or demonstrations.
What will you do when you have to go to a packed lunch in a restaurant? You can not avoid family gatherings forever.
On the other hand, putting earplugs in your ears will only make the problem worse. If your auditory pathways are very sensitive, they will be more sensitive even if they do not receive sound stimuli because you have covered your ears.
So what is the solution?
There are several possible treatments for hyperacusis, misophonia and phonophobia, and are as follows:
Facial Exposure Therapy
This technique will be especially effective if you have hyperacusis. If your ears are sensitive to loud noises, a solution may be to start exposing them to loud sounds little by little, until the hypersensitivity disappears.
At the same time, it would be convenient for you to be in an environment rich in sounds all day and maybe even at night, as this will also help decrease the sensitivity in your auditory pathways.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
It will be especially effective if you have misofonia. The therapist will try to provide you with tools to help you To dominate the anxiety And negative emotions when you hear the sounds that irritate you.
On the other hand, you will try to change those negative emotions by positive thoughts , Which are associated with the sounds that today are an unpleasant stimulus for your ears.
Relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques Which include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation may also be useful in controlling the symptoms of any of these disorders involving low tolerance to sounds.
These techniques will help you Control anger , The frustration and anxiety that the sounds cause you.
Before starting any treatment, it is best to make a professional consultation.
Research work at the Academic Medical Center of Amsterdam
At present there are very few institutions in the world that consider phonophobia as a disease important enough to carry out research on it.
Among these institutions is the Academic Medical Center of Amsterdam , Where Dr. Arjan Schroder, a psychiatrist, studies the causes, effects and possible treatments for phonophobia.
Researchers at the center have been working on this issue for several years, and two or three people are coming in for help each week, according to Dr. Schroder.
Almost everyone feels a certain rejection of certain noises that people make, but in some people the symptoms are so severe that they clearly cause suffering.
People with phonophobia in many cases can not eat or sleep in the same room with other people, or even stop going to work.
It's a conditioning process, says Dr. Schroder. A connection is generated between a neutral sound and a negative emotion. And if you then start to avoid that sound, the problem simply gets worse.
Although its causes are not yet well understood, phonophobia can be treated. At Amsterdam Medical Center Patients with phonophobia perform group therapy.
In the sessions, therapists apply techniques that allow patients to turn off the sounds of negative emotions. It is like"reprogramming"their brains and therefore, getting positive results takes some time, but getting them is perfectly possible.
A real case
A 12-year-old girl went to the ENT doctor's office because she was very uncomfortable listening to certain sounds, such as the rumor of a plastic bag or the noise of a small balloon explosion.
When I heard these sounds, the girl had tachycardia, sweating a lot and crying.
The symptoms began after the girl saw a big fireworks show, a few months ago.
After several studies doctors did not detect physical abnormalities in their ears or in their brain, and they were diagnosed phonophobia.
At the beginning of his treatment he attended two psychotherapy weekly sessions, with his parents, and also learned relaxation exercises.
At the same time, it was gradually exposed to a series of sounds, with the aim of gradually increasing their tolerance to them.
In only three months of treatment, the girl showed a significant improvement, and at six months, was able to witness a fireworks show again.
This could also be your case. If you think you have phonophobia, consult the right professionals to get a correct treatment for your condition.
And have you experienced phonophobia? What symptoms have you had and what treatment have you followed?