_:n6649463bc1e545c88fb6834dc7a879d6xb0
<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Do you dread lunchtimes in the office because your colleague's noisy chewing drives you round the bend? We're sorry to say it but the problem could lie with you. Scientists have discovered people who find certain mundane sounds, such as chewing gum or pen clicking, absolutely agonising have a genuine brain abnormality. It's called misophonia – and sufferers report feeling totally disgusted when exposed to noises that other people can simply phase out. The medical community was previously sceptical that this was a real affliction but now researchers have found a difference in the frontal lobe of the brain in those who suffer. The work is published in Current Biology . It's certainly not fatal, but it can cause problems in daily life in extreme cases. Take 29-year-old Olana Tansley-Hancock from Kent. She started to find family meals unbearable around the age of 8. \"The noise of my family eating forced me to retreat to my own bedroom for meals. I can only describe it as a feeling of wanting to punch people in the face when I heard the noise of them eating – and anyone who knows me will say that doesn't sound like me.\" She went to her GP but his response was to simply mock her. It was only after seeking help online that she found the Misophonia UK website and got involved with research. Olana is now a lot better – which she attributes to lifestyle changes. She mediates, has reduced her caffeine and alcohol intake and is always prepared for trigger sounds by carrying earplugs wherever she goes. What did the scientists find? The researchers at Newcastle University discovered changes in brain activity for misophonia sufferers when a trigger sound is experienced. Additionally, they found sufferers experienced an increased heart rate and sweated when they were confronted by the annoying sound. The scientists say the study suggests there's a difference in the 'emotional control mechanism' for sufferers. Essentially, the brains of people with misophonia go into overdrive on hearing trigger sounds. Dr Sukhbinder Kumar, from Newcastle University , who led the research, said: \"For many people with misophonia, this will come as welcome news, as for the first time we have demonstrated a difference in brain structure and function in sufferers. This study demonstrates the critical brain changes as further evidence to convince a sceptical medical community that this is a genuine disorder.\" Dr Kumar believes this research opens up future possibilities for therapy. But in the meantime, if you think you're a sufferer, we recommend investing in a good pair of headphones and acquainting yourself with online white noise generators. Visit http://www.misophonia-uk.org/ for more information on the condition."
<https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/wellbeing/news/a27601/misophonia-chewing-noises-angry/>