Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome

Selective sound sensitivity syndrome, also known as soft sound sensitivity syndrome or misophonia, is a poorly understood medical condition in which a person has an extreme dislike of certain sounds. The most common sounds people with selective sound sensitivity syndrome dislike are oral sounds as such as chewing, slurping, licking of the lips, coughing or words with "s" sounds, but any sounds can be the cause of despair. Hearing the offending sounds invokes feelings of anxiety, anger, despair and depression. The aversion to the sounds is so extreme that it inhibits the person's ability to live a normal life. People with the syndrome often wear earplugs and headphones to reduce their ability to hear the offending noises and avoid places where they would likely hear the noises, such as at the dinner table, restaurants or movie theaters. The syndrome can develop into phonophobia, which is a extreme fear of noises. Selective sound sensitivity syndrome usually first develops at the onset of puberty, but can develop in earlier childhood or in adulthood.

The Cause of Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome

The cause of selective sound sensitivity syndrome is not fully understood at this time. A malfunction of the auditory system is a commonly accepted cause among hearing specialists who treat the condition. A person's ears pick up sounds in the environment and transmit the sound data to the auditory system of the brain. In a person with selective sound sensitivity syndrome, the auditory system overly magnifies certain sounds, so the brain perceives a normally quiet sound as a loud one. A sound that most people find quiet and easy to ignore, is loud and extremely difficult to ignore in a person with selective sound sensitivity syndrome. To understand the malfunction, think of the auditory system in the brain as a volume control dial on your radio. In people who have selective sound sensitivity syndrome, the volume control dial is stuck on the loudest setting when certain sounds are processed.The condition may be related to another auditory processing disorder called hyperacusis, where the auditory system magnifies sounds to the extent that they cause physical pain to the person with the condition. It is not uncommon for a person to have both hyperacusis and selective sound sensitivity syndrome.

Treatment

Broadband Sound Therapy

Selective sound sensitivity syndrome is treated by an audiologist with broadband sound therapy (tinnitus retraining therapy) through the use of in-the-ear sound generators--a treatment originally developed by Dr. Pawel Jastreboff. Tinnitus retraining therapy is the same treatment used in patients who suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears). In-the-ear sound generators look and are worn like hearing aids. The generators play a steady stream of white or pink noise in the ears. Both white and pink noise sound similar to a the sound a fan makes. White and pink noise are broadband sounds, meaning they produce sounds at multiple tones simueotaneously. The purpose of wearing the in-the-ear generators is to habituate the auditory system to hearing multi-tone noises, so that it no longer turns up the volume when it hears sounds. Treatment typically starts with the patient wearing the generators for one hour a day. As the person tolerance builds up to hearing the sounds, the generators are worn for longer and longer lengths of time, until they are worn most if not all hours of the day. Dr. Marsha Johnson claims that approximately 3/4 of her patients substantially improve with noise generator treatment. The length of broadband sound therapy treatment lasts 10 months or longer, depending on the individual.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Broadband noise therapy works best when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy. During cognitive behavioral therapy, a psychiatrist or psychologist teaches methods to enable a person to respond more productively to undesirable circumstances. For those with selective sound sensitivity syndrome, cognitive behavioral therapy teaches patients methods to reduce feelings of anxiety and anger when exposed to undesirable noises. It is best to have the audiologist and cognitive behavioral therapist work together throughout the treatment.

Message to Family Members and Friends

Selective sound sensitivity syndrome is a neurological condition that causes the person extreme inner turmoil. It is not something that the person can simply ignore. Realize that your loved one is suffering, be understanding of their pain and help the to find treatment.

Finding Treatment Providers

Because little is known about selective sound sensitivity syndrome, many doctors are unaware of the condition. In order to receive effective treatment, it is essential to find treatment providers who are aware of the syndrome and experienced in treating it. See the following list to find treatment providers in your area:

Find an Audiologist in Your Area who Provides Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Ask your audiologist to recommend a cognitive behavioral therapist, if possible. Otherwise, find a certified cognitive behavioral therapist at the link below.

Find a Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist in Your Area

Helpful Resources

Online Misophonia (Sound Sensitivity) Support Group

Online Message Board for People with Hyeracusis, Misophonia and other Sound Disorders

Further Reading

Misophonia

About Misophonia

Hyperacusis

References

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neuropsyiological Model; Pawel J. Jastreboff, Johnathan W. P. Hazell; Cambridge University Press; 2004