daughter can’t stand chewing sounds

[Yellow-cello]

Hi Everyone! My 12 year old started expressing her irritation with the sound of others chewing food around a year ago. She can eat dinner with the family but at certain times and if the house is especially quiet, she can’t stand the sound. She says sometimes she has to move away from her loud chewing friends during lunch at school. So it seems the issue isn’t going away and I’m wondering if any of you have successfully dealt with this and might have advice. I should also mention she has been in 15th percentile for height and weight since early elementary, and has always been a slow, distracted eater. Treating adhd with Focalin. TIA!

[MaudQ]

My friend’s kid has something called misophonia which means she has extreme sensitivity to sound: chewing, crinkling etc. Zoloft is helping, she has a 504 that kind of helps. I don’t know much more than that but you might want to look into it.

[El-Eektrified]

I know how your daughter feels, I also couldn’t bear the sound when I was a child. Asking my family members to “eat” without sound… everyone stopped talking.. creating an awkward dinner moment… sometimes they would complain that I just have to learn to deal with it…

I also remember putting my hands on my ears, while in school, to not hear the others eat.

chewing-gum is something else that should be taken off the market 😂 I still cannot stand the sound… but I learned how to mask my feelings and know it is only taking a few minutes…

I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, but now I might also be troubled with comorbid ASD, which would explain the sensory issues, that I also experienced as a child. My doc also explained that stimulants can increase sensory issues.

Apparently they are learning more about ADHD and ASD in women/girls... even treatment plans would require a different approach. As my doc told me that most of the experiences/literature /researches they have done in the field are based on boys/male adolescents and adults… they are learning about the development of childhood disorders in girls/woman and trying to find the right approach and testing material…

[Hidden]

Stimulants heighten for some people some senses (especially is someone is slightly sensory sensitive anyway, and many people are! I for example don’t like loudly ticking clocks and as much as on the day o am fine with those but in a bedroom I can’t stand it and I am not on any medication!). Also stimulants cause appetite suppression and irritability. I’d say no one likes other people chomping loudly food in their ear😄You know, when someone eats an apple really loudly sitting next to you on a sofa. Or crisps and also making noise with the wrapping😄

I even know people who went on dates and said the person was great but the way they were eating loudly they just can’t be with someone like this 😄

If she is on 15th centile it probably does mean that the appetite suppression, dry mouth etc has been affecting her significantly.

Then just he empathetic- she is off her food and irritable and no wonder it annoys her when people are chewing food!

Many parents here recommended Cyproheptadine to counteract side effects of stimulants so you may want to ask your daughters doctor about it.

[Elijah1]

Agree that this is misophonia. Read about it and its interventions.

[T8T8T8]

Hello! My teen has been suffering from Misophonia and Misokinesia for years. Misophonia causes a fight/flight/freeze response to noises and Misokinesia is the same for visuals such as leg shaking, hand movements, facial expressions, even just the sight of a trigger. Anxiety usually makes responses to triggers worse and more frequent. I encourage you and your daughter watch the YouTube video Breaking the Sound Barrier. It's a 35 minute eye-opening video about teens with Misophonia.Watch "Breaking the Sound Barrier | Teens With Misophonia" on YouTube

youtu.be/l401uIyrE_A(Not working as expected?)

Another wonderful resource is the Facebook group Misophonia - Parents of Children with Misophonia. It's very supportive and is a treasure trove of information.

Headphones and earplugs are lifesavers for us. These work very well for my daughter. amazon.com/dp/B08T6HGDXR?re...

Duke University is a leader in Misophonia research and has helpful information on their website.

misophonia.duke.edu/

I hope this helps a little. Hugs to you and your daughter!