At 60, ‘Little House on Prairie’ Star Melissa Gilbert Reveals Her Rare Condition That Made Her Childhood ‘Dark’ & ‘Difficult’

Aug 22, 2024

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Melissa Gilbert is a woman of many talents. She is best known for her work as an actress, television director and producer. She was also once the president of the Screen Actors Guild.

On May 8, 1964, Gilbert was born to a couple who gave her up for adoption immediately after her birth. Just one day later, she was adopted by actor Paul Gilbert and his wife, Barbara Crane. 

Gilbert began making a name for herself very young and had a stable career as a child actress in the mid-to-late 1960s. She started by appearing in several commercials and obtaining guest-starring roles on television. Gilbert got her big break when she starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder in the series "Little House on the Prairie." The successful series aired from 1974 to 1982, with a spin-off series generated shortly after. The actress continued to find work in the acting world, mostly appearing in television films. She has also released a few memoirs that detail her life experiences.

However, unbeknownst to many, Gilbert has been suffering from a condition since she was a child that went undiagnosed for many years. As a young girl, sounds like chewing gum or even someone tapping a table were unbearable triggers for her. 

These sounds provoke intense reactions in Gilbert, causing her to turn red and cry in frustration. At 60, she revealed to the world what was happening inside her after finally understanding her condition that caused these triggers. Keep reading to learn more about Gilbert and her surprising medical condition.

Speaking to People in August 2024, Gilbert revealed that she was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition Misophonia. The Cleveland Clinic described the disorder as a condition in which individuals have a decreased tolerance to specific sounds – in Gilbert’s case – chewing gum and tapping sounds. 

"I sobbed when I found out that it had a name and I wasn't just a bad person," Gilbert told the publication. She also wanted to raise awareness of the disorder with the Duke Center for Misophonia and Emotional Regulation at Duke University's School of Medicine.

Living with the condition undiagnosed since she was a child, Gilbert described having Misophonia as "a really dark and difficult part of my childhood.” Back then, she would glare at people and feel “horribly guilty for feeling hateful” toward them. 

Things started to escalate when she hit menopause because she got “more touchy,” and as her estrogen levels decreased, anger began to increase. 

As her courageous admission went public, fans couldn’t help but sympathize with her and celebrate her bravery in opening up such a personal problem.

“You’re an inspiration, Melissa!” a fan declared on Instagram. 

“Thank you for bringing light to this, it has been such a difficult thing to explain to people in my life” a fan who seemed to share the same disorder wrote. 

“I have to it. Thanks for sharing Melissa! It can make socializing so difficult,” another commented. 

“Thank you for this - my daughter has had misophonia for years- difficult for everyone- but nice to know there could be some help!!” a fourth person said. 

Gilbert also had a few health hiccups in the past. In March 2024, she underwent another spinal surgery after having some neck pain that began in 2020, for which she also received treatment.

Are you a fan of Melissa Gilbert? Had you heard about misophonia before? Do you know someone who experiences similar triggers? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other Melissa Gilbert fans out there!