Misophonia Stress in Audiology and OT Students

Occupational therapy students reported more severe misophonia symptoms and higher stress levels than their audiology counterparts, according to a study of 196 university students. The research, led by Rahmiye Nur Aktan, Ali Karaağaç, and Hilal Nur Saygılı, points to a complex relationship between sensory sensitivity, stress, and awareness of this sound intolerance disorder.

How Researchers Measured Misophonia and Stress

The study aimed to measure awareness of misophonia among students in two relevant health fields and explore its links to stress. Participants, all adult university students, completed three forms. The first was a demographic questionnaire designed to gauge their existing knowledge of misophonia. They also filled out the Misophonia Questionnaire (MQ), which assesses the severity of symptoms and emotional reactions to trigger sounds. Finally, they completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to measure their general stress levels over the previous month.

The researchers confirmed the statistical reliability of their tools. The internal consistency of the MQ subscales was good, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.752 to 0.829. The PSS also showed acceptable reliability with a value of 0.709. This gave the team confidence that their measurements were stable and consistent for this sample.

Key Findings: Department Differences and Stress Links

The analysis revealed clear and statistically significant differences across all measured parameters when comparing groups by stress status and field of study.

A central finding was the discrepancy between departments. Occupational therapy students consistently scored higher on both the MQ and the PSS compared to audiology students. The authors propose several explanations. Occupational therapy curricula focus heavily on sensory processing and integration, which might increase students’ awareness of their own sensory sensitivities. This heightened awareness could lead to more accurate self-reporting of misophonia symptoms. Alternatively, the study suggests individuals drawn to occupational therapy may inherently possess greater sensory sensitivity, which could predispose them to conditions like misophonia and correlate with higher stress levels.

The data confirmed a strong positive correlation: as misophonia symptom severity increased, so did perceived stress. This relationship held true regardless of department, reinforcing the idea that the distress caused by trigger sounds contributes significantly to an individual’s overall stress burden.

Demographic factors also played a role. While age was not a significant factor, gender, department, and family history produced distinct differences on some sub-scales. Most notably, participants who reported they were not receiving any form of psychological support registered the highest stress scores of all. This points to a potential gap in care for individuals struggling with the condition.

What This Means for Understanding Misophonia

These results build a case for viewing misophonia as far more than a simple sensitivity to sound. The strong link to perceived stress and the influence of psychological support status highlight its psychosocial dimensions. The condition appears to interact deeply with emotional regulation, stress response systems, and an individual’s ability to adapt to environmental stimuli.

The findings align with existing literature suggesting misophonia symptoms often establish themselves in childhood or adolescence and can become chronic in adulthood. This underscores the need for early identification and intervention. The study also implies that effective management likely requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating audiological knowledge with psychological and occupational therapy strategies.

For instance, while audiology provides a foundation for understanding hearing and sound sensitivity, occupational therapy’s focus on sensory integration and daily functioning offers practical coping frameworks. Psychological support is critical for addressing the emotional reactions and stress. This integrated view is supported by other research on the site exploring managing misophonia in adolescents and young adults and a cognitive reappraisal pilot study for misophonia treatment.

Practical Implications for Patients and Professionals

For students and individuals who suspect they have misophonia, the study offers several important insights. First, recognizing the connection between your reactions to sounds and your overall stress level is a valid and evidence-based step. Seeking psychological support is not an admission of failure but a targeted strategy that the data suggests could help lower overall distress.

For healthcare educators, particularly in occupational therapy and audiology programs, these findings argue for including misophonia awareness in the curriculum. Occupational therapy students, who scored higher on symptoms, could benefit from learning about the condition both as a potential personal challenge and as a future clinical focus. Audiology students, as frontline hearing health professionals, need the knowledge to identify and refer patients appropriately.

Clinically, the research supports moving beyond a singular treatment model. A patient’s care plan might combine sound therapy from an audiologist, cognitive-behavioral techniques from a psychologist to manage anger and anxiety, and sensory lifestyle adjustments guided by an occupational therapist. This mirrors a broader trend in hearing health, moving toward an integrated auditory health approach that considers the whole person.

The study by Aktan and colleagues adds to the growing evidence that misophonia is a complex, stress-related condition. It calls for greater awareness among health students and professionals, and it champions a collaborative treatment model that addresses the auditory, emotional, and sensory components of the disorder.

Source: Aktan, R.N., Karaağaç, A. & Saygılı, H.N. The relationship between misophonia awareness, symptom severity, and perceived stress levels in university students. Egypt J Otolaryngol 40, 183 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-026-01163-8