ASMR and Misophonia
If sounds like chewing make you angry, you can still try ASMR, but start with non mouth sounds such as rain, page turning or soft tapping, at a low volume. Skip eating and mouth sound videos. If reactions to sound are strong or affect daily life, see a doctor or audiologist who knows misophonia.
Start safe
- Try rain, room tone, page turns or fabric before voices.
- Skip eating, chewing and wet mouth sounds.
- Keep the volume low and the video short.
- Stop at the first sign of tension.
Add sounds slowly
Add one new sound at a time and wait a day before adding another. If a sound bothers you, drop it without guilt. Keep a short list of safe and unsafe sounds.
Why a bad reaction can happen
A soft sound close to your ear can be intense if you are sensitive. Close whispers and mouth noises can be harder than distant ones. Try a quieter video, a different voice or play it through speakers.
Take control of the video
Turn off autoplay so a new video does not start with a trigger sound. Preview a video by skipping through at low volume before you commit.
What the research says
No study that we found shows that ASMR treats misophonia. A PubMed search in October 2026 for the full phrase autonomous sensory meridian response together with misophonia returned 11 records, out of 103 that mention the phrase in the title or abstract.
In a 2018 study, Janik McErlean and Banissy gave a misophonia questionnaire to people reporting ASMR and to matched controls. The ASMR group scored higher on all subscales, and the authors concluded that people reporting ASMR have elevated levels of misophonia.
A 2024 online study by Mednicoff and colleagues found that reactions to misophonia videos were predicted by reactions to ASMR and musical chills videos. The authors say this could reflect a general tendency toward stronger emotional reactions to meaningful sensory input.
A 2020 paper by McGeoch and Rouw proposes an idea, not a finding, that crossed activation between hearing and body feeling areas might help explain both conditions.
So the research suggests the two can overlap, and does not show that ASMR helps misophonia.
ASMR is not a treatment; talk to a doctor if symptoms persist.
When to get help
If sounds make you very angry, panicked or lead you to avoid people or places, see a doctor or audiologist. Support options exist, and a video should not replace them.
Quick decision list
- Mouth sounds make you angry: skip them.
- Curious: try rain or page turning at low volume.
- A sound bothers you: stop and note it.
- Daily life affected: see a professional.
Share what you learn with people around you, so they know which sounds to avoid when you are nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have ASMR and misophonia at the same time?
Yes, some people report both. One study found people reporting ASMR scored higher on a misophonia questionnaire than controls.
Can ASMR treat misophonia?
We found no study showing it can. ASMR is not a treatment. See a doctor for care.
Why do ASMR sounds trigger my misophonia?
Soft close sounds, especially mouth sounds, are strong triggers for some people. Skip them and try steady sounds without voices.
Are ASMR triggers and misophonia triggers the same?
They can overlap. Mouth sounds and tapping help some people and upset others.
Quick tips
- Begin with rain, room tone or page turning at a low volume, and leave mouth sounds for later or skip them altogether.
- Turn off autoplay so a new video cannot start with a sound that sets off a reaction.
- Keep a short list of safe and unsafe sounds, and check it before you choose a video.
- Stop at the first sign of tension and rest, and see a professional if reactions are strong or affect daily life.