Misophonia is thought to be a neurological disorder where common, ordinary sounds, such as someone else chewing or breathing loudly, are perceived as extremely irritating, causing a fight-or-flight response in the listener. These sounds may cause an increase in anxiety and the feeling of panic.

People with misophonia generally have typical hearing but exhibit a severe sensitivity to specific and often soft sounds. Other diagnosis often coincide with misophonia, such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorder.

Individuals with misophonia can be desensitized to unpleasant sounds through listening therapies.