Bugged By Chewing Noises? You Might Be a Genius

Feb 21, 2018

It's not uncommon to be mildly irritated by little noises such as chewing, fingers tapping and nails scratching. For some people, however, this crosses the line from annoyance to rage. If you have ever found yourself on the verge of a temper tantrum because of the little noises made by the people and objects around you, it's possible that there is a medical explanation.

Misophonia is a condition whose sufferers are extraordinarily sensitive to certain sounds. These sounds are not the same for everyone, but the noises listed above are common examples. The level of discomfort is so high that those with misophonia often have been known to lash out and scream at whoever is responsible for making the noise. This can make socializing a great challenge.

There are more people with this condition than you might think, and many of them are quite intelligent. There seems to be a correlation between sensitivity to sound and being a genius. Some examples of luminaries with misophonia include writers Marcel Proust and Anton Chekhov and scientist Charles Darwin. They did not let their sensitivity stop them from making major contributions to their given fields.

If you have misophonia, there's no reason that you should let it stop you. There are many modifications that you can make to ease your stress. First, talk to the people around you and let them know about your sensitivity. If they are considerate, they will make an effort to tone down the noise. You can also ask your boss about working in a quieter part of the office or even from home, and a good pair of noise-canceling headphones can be a lifesaver. 

Whatever strategies you try to combat your aggravation, don't feel bad if little noises get under your skin. Take comfort in the fact that you may have a hidden wellspring of creativity.

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