Misophonia…Can it be helped?….By Dr. Richard Reikowski, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center

Can Misophonia be helped?

This is a question that I am pursuing. I am personally interested if and how best we can offer help to those suffering from Misophonia. This begins with reading and learning by those who have this sound sensitivity to such things as lips smacking while eating, chewing gum, bubble popping, clicking of a pen, tapping of fingers on a table, or even the tapping of a pencil or pen while writing.

We do know that Misophonia is a fairly new subject that is negatively affecting people’s enjoyment of life. These extraneous sounds are inhibiting normal interactions with others. The sounds affect concentration and distract attention from conversations, watching TV, reading a book, attending church, etc….  People with these sound sensitivities are feeling that there is a barrier, that is created by these unwanted sounds, often keeping them from happiness. As an Audiologist, I am learning from various social media sites discussing Misophonia in real lives. I am understanding how this affects connections with others. This is a real condition and often, as it appears, the medical community is lacking a direction to most effectively help or offer advice.

I am here at the beginning stages to place this as a priority in an effort to understand, to listen, and to offer any help that I, and our practice, can do to be of service. I will begin to share what I, and our practice, learn of this condition, and how we can help. At the onset, I am certainly hopeful that we can help those with Misophonia, …. similar to those who we have helped having tinnitus or hyperacusis (intolerance to sounds).   I preface the last statement, that I am learning and discerning how we can offer solutions for patients having Misophonia.