Misophonia Prevalence in Mumbai’s Tertiary Healthcare Hospital

A new study has validated the first questionnaire for assessing misophonia in Marathi, a language spoken by over 83 million people in India. The research, conducted by audiologists Suman Chalotra, Nirali Chauhan, and Deepa Valame, found that 11% of participants showed moderate to severe symptoms of the condition, with a significantly higher prevalence among women. The work provides a vital tool for identifying and understanding misophonia in a major linguistic group where such data was previously scarce.

Building a Diagnostic Tool for a Major Language

The researchers set out to create a reliable Marathi version of the Amsterdam Misophonia Questionnaire (A-MISO-S), a standard tool for measuring the severity of misophonic reactions. Misophonia involves intense emotional and physiological responses—like anger, anxiety, or disgust—to specific, often mundane sounds such as chewing, breathing, or typing.

Their methodology followed rigorous translation guidelines from the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons. The process involved independent forward translation from English to Marathi, then back-translation into English by different linguists to check for accuracy. A panel of audiologists then reviewed the translation for clinical relevance and face validity, ensuring the questions were clear and culturally appropriate for Marathi speakers.

To test the new tool, the team conducted face-to-face interviews with 227 adults. They excluded individuals with known hearing loss or psychological disorders to focus on misophonia-specific responses. A subset of 30 bilingual participants completed the questionnaire in both English and Marathi two weeks apart, allowing the team to assess consistency across languages and over time.

11% Show Significant Symptoms, With a Clear Gender Link

The analysis confirmed the Marathi A-MISO-S is a robust instrument. It showed good internal consistency, meaning the questions reliably measured the same underlying construct of misophonia severity. The test-retest scores were also strong, indicating the tool produces stable results over a short period.

Applying the questionnaire revealed a notable clinical picture. Just over one in ten participants (11%) scored in the range indicating moderate to severe misophonia. This finding aligns with other prevalence studies, such as the research on misophonia prevalence in Mumbai healthcare, highlighting that the condition is not rare.

A key finding was a significant association with gender. Females in the study were more likely to report moderate to severe misophonic symptoms than males. This correlation, with a p-value of 0.03, adds to a complex body of evidence on how sex and gender may influence sound tolerance disorders. The study found no significant link between misophonia symptoms and age.

Practical Implications for Clinics and Public Awareness

The immediate impact of this work is practical: it provides clinicians in Maharashtra and other Marathi-speaking regions with a validated, culturally adapted tool for diagnosis. Before this, assessment often relied on English-language questionnaires or informal evaluation, creating a barrier to accurate identification and care.

Identifying that 11% of their sample had significant symptoms stresses a clear need for greater clinical awareness and the development of treatment pathways. Misophonia can severely impact suffering and well-being in hearing health, affecting social interactions, work concentration, and mental health. Having a standard diagnostic measure is a first critical step toward managing these impacts.

The gender difference noted by Chalotra and colleagues points to an important area for future study. It raises questions about whether biological, psychological, or social factors drive this disparity. Understanding this could help tailor more effective support, especially as research explores the links between tinnitus, anxiety, and sound sensitivity.

Filling a Data Gap and Setting a Direction

This study directly addresses a lack of epidemiological data on misophonia in India. By validating a tool in a major Indian language, the researchers have enabled larger-scale, population-based studies that can better define the scope of the problem across diverse communities.

The authors conclude that the Marathi A-MISO-S is ready for use in clinical and research settings. They call for increased professional and public awareness of misophonia as a legitimate health condition that requires recognition and intervention. Future research, they suggest, should investigate the factors contributing to misophonia’s development, including its relationship with gender and co-occurring psychological conditions.

This work demonstrates how linguistic validation of research tools is not merely an academic exercise but a necessary step for inclusive healthcare. It ensures that scientific understanding and clinical resources are accessible to all language groups, paving the way for better outcomes for millions of people.

The study, “Translation and validation of Amsterdam Misophonia Questionnaire (A-MISO-S) in Marathi language,” was published in the Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology (DOI: 10.1186/s43163-026-01108-1).