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In everyday life, we are surrounded by many sounds that most people do not pay special attention to. Sounds accompanying eating, swallowing, breathing – these sounds may be unpleasant, but for a small percentage of the population they are extremely bothersome, cause nervousness, sometimes even infuriating. Going to a restaurant, a dog barking nearby, a partner’s snoring, sniffling, and even clicking the computer keyboard cause some almost physical pain and tension.
People suffering from misophoniabecause that’s what this ailment is called, they perceive some sounds with exceptional sensitivity. Mizofonia, from the Greek words misos – hate and phono – sound, also referred to as zespół SSS – Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome, translating it almost literally – a syndrome of (over) sensitivity to selective, specific sounds. This disorder was first described in a scientific publication by audiologists P. and M. Jastreboff only in 2000. Mizofonia most often it manifests itself already in childhood, causing mental and somatic reactions to some soundsthe spectrum of which may worsen with age. Mizofonia can be burdensome to such an extent that people affected by it often give up going out to public places, as well as relaxing in the bosom of nature – the singing of birds and the noise of trees can also irritate the senses mizofonika. In relationships with loved ones, problems may arise related to the irritability of the sufferer misophonia people in contact with noises that cannot be avoided in a shared apartment or workplace.
The latest research on the causes occurrence mizofonii conducted by scientists from the English University of Newcastle under the supervision of Dr. Sukhbinder Kumar. They consisted in examining a group of people with the help of magnetic resonance imaging and checking the reaction of their brain to specific ones sounds.
The subjects were reconstructed sounds neutral – sounds of rain, boiling water and the sounds of a cafe full of people; sounds unpleasant, such as human screams and baby crying, as well as the sound of breathing, chewing gum and the like. The subjects showed somatic reactions to stress induced by certain sounds: increase in heart rate and heart rate, sweating. MRI showed reactions in the brain, specifically the parts responsible for emotions. In people suffering from misophonia differences were observed in the frontal lobe between the brain hemispheres relative to the brain of unaffected people. In the brains of those tested misophonia, there are differences in the responses of the frontal lobe compared to the “standard” brain, and disturbances in the connections between the insular cortex with the hippocampus and amygdala. In the brain, the island is responsible for processing and “understanding” emotions, the hippocampus is responsible for memory, and the amygdala is responsible for storing memories. This means that misophonia is caused by a disturbance in the brain’s reaction to recalling memories. Research done at the University of Newcastle found that misophonia it is not a neurotic or anxiety disorder, although it can be associated with conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The anxiety, irritability and panic attacks characteristic of these diseases may also occur in patients misophoniaas a reaction to a sound that the patient cannot bear.
Misophonia – treatment
Dr. Sukhbinder Kumar, head of research at Newcastle University, is working to identify the causes of the occurrence mizofonii. There is no clear answer to this question. However, it is being developed neurofeedback methodthat is, observing the brain on the screen and learning to deal with unpleasant symptoms mizofonii. This method is to work out ways to consciously influence the reactions of one’s own brain by making the brain aware of how the brain behaves when it receives an irritating stimulus, i.e. irritating sounds.
There is currently no pharmacological agent that can completely eliminate symptoms mizofonii, however, there are ways to deal with the condition as well as possible. These methods allow you to function in society and everyday life, minimizing the stress associated with strong stimuli when perceiving certain sounds. Mizofonik he can wear soundproofing earplugs or just headphones, allowing you to listen to your favorite music, which helps to calm down and cut off the sounds from the surroundings. Psychotherapy can be helpful, to be specific habituation therapywhich is intended to treat tinnitus – another condition, but also related to the brain’s influence on associations caused by sounds. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also help.