Re: Misophonia at the workplace

June 5, 2012

I know it's intimidating to explain this type of thing to HR, feeling like they

just won't understand or you'll end up sounding like a looney tune. What I did,

was I got a hyperacusis diagnosis from my doctor. Then I can just whip that out,

and say " I have sensitive hearing, I need x, y, and z " and then legally, they

have to accommodate you, or risk getting a disability discrimination lawsuit.

They don't know what's wrong with you right now, they just see you as closed off

and irritable. So you should be upfront about it and be honest. Tell them you

can't work with all the distractions. Don't get into all the details of the

triggers, just say, all the noise from people around me is affecting my

productivity and my mood at work. I need my headphones, or closed door, or

whatever you need to get through the day. You won't be inconveniencing anybody,

and you'll be happier at work.

And if you do want to try and explain misophonia, use the DSM definiton for

hyperacusis, code 388.42 which is a legitimate medical diagnosis.

Legally you don't have to explain what it is or why, just prove that you have

it, then ask for a reasonable accommodation.

In the meantime, try www.simplynoise.com at your computer speakers. It helps me,

and I have the nastiest, rudest, most obnoxious coworker sitting near me at all

times. She slopping a burger and fries down her gullet right now, licking her

fingers, and I could shoot her head right off.

>

> Hi everyone! This is my first post in this group, although I have been

following all your posts for a couple months now! It is great to see such a

supportive environment filled with people who have been tormented with this

condition just like me!

>

> I have been dealing with misophonia since I was very young. Started with my

parents chewing, then my sister coughing, then pencils tapping, then pencils

against paper, then feet brushing on carpet... now I'm up to everything under

the sun with my number one trigger being BANGLE BRACELETS! This might seem like

a weird trigger, but when you sit in an office next to a woman who snaps her gum

and rattles her bangle bracelets ALL DAY EVERY DAY (maybe I have just started to

associate the bangles with the gum) it drives you nuts! I also sit in an office

across from an incessant granola cruncher/cougher/sniffler.

>

> So, here I am in my office listening the bangles/gum snapper and I just needed

to vent. I just started at this job about 2 months ago, and have seen other

people (in cubicles) wearing headphones. I started to wear headphones but was

told a few days later by my boss that someone " at a very high level " (I'm

assuming a VP) said that I was giving off the wrong impression by wearing

headphones in an office. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! MY LIFE IS OVER!!!!!!!!! At my

past job, I was told I gave off the wrong impression by having my office door

shut all the time, so I don't want to make that mistake here. I have a small

radio that plays but does nothing to block the noises coming from the door. I

brought in a white noise machine, no help...

>

> What else can I try? Do I go to HR or my boss and try to explain misophonia?

Will they just assume that this is some ridiculous, made-up, crazy mental

problem like my whole family assumes?

>

> Or... do I sit here and listen the the gum and chewing and coughing and

freaking BANGLE BRACELETS all day just counting down the hours until 5 pm...

giving off good impressions on the outside (while being silent and angry on the

inside)so I can go home at the end of the day and yell at my boyfriend for

chewing his dinner too loudly??

>

> Oh someone please find a cure...................... if some experimental drug

or therapy comes out - sign me up!

>

> Okay. Done with my rant. I will drop my mic and exit stage left.

>

June 5, 2012

, that's really sound advice.

, the only thing I would add is if you decide to get a hearing test, ask the

audiologist about maskers. They're expensive, but if you can afford them, they

will block noise without headphones. Call several audiologist to ask how much

they charge, as prices vary (and might be partially covered by insurance).

Hopefully, you can resolve this problem with your employer without the added

expense.

Wish you the best.

Colleen

> >

> > Hi everyone! This is my first post in this group, although I have been

following all your posts for a couple months now! It is great to see such a

supportive environment filled with people who have been tormented with this

condition just like me!

> >

> > I have been dealing with misophonia since I was very young. Started with my

parents chewing, then my sister coughing, then pencils tapping, then pencils

against paper, then feet brushing on carpet... now I'm up to everything under

the sun with my number one trigger being BANGLE BRACELETS! This might seem like

a weird trigger, but when you sit in an office next to a woman who snaps her gum

and rattles her bangle bracelets ALL DAY EVERY DAY (maybe I have just started to

associate the bangles with the gum) it drives you nuts! I also sit in an office

across from an incessant granola cruncher/cougher/sniffler.

> >

> > So, here I am in my office listening the bangles/gum snapper and I just

needed to vent. I just started at this job about 2 months ago, and have seen

other people (in cubicles) wearing headphones. I started to wear headphones but

was told a few days later by my boss that someone " at a very high level " (I'm

assuming a VP) said that I was giving off the wrong impression by wearing

headphones in an office. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! MY LIFE IS OVER!!!!!!!!! At my

past job, I was told I gave off the wrong impression by having my office door

shut all the time, so I don't want to make that mistake here. I have a small

radio that plays but does nothing to block the noises coming from the door. I

brought in a white noise machine, no help...

> >

> > What else can I try? Do I go to HR or my boss and try to explain misophonia?

Will they just assume that this is some ridiculous, made-up, crazy mental

problem like my whole family assumes?

> >

> > Or... do I sit here and listen the the gum and chewing and coughing and

freaking BANGLE BRACELETS all day just counting down the hours until 5 pm...

giving off good impressions on the outside (while being silent and angry on the

inside)so I can go home at the end of the day and yell at my boyfriend for

chewing his dinner too loudly??

> >

> > Oh someone please find a cure...................... if some experimental

drug or therapy comes out - sign me up!

> >

> > Okay. Done with my rant. I will drop my mic and exit stage left.

> >

>

June 5, 2012

Hi ,I hear you loud and clear. I worked with someone who wore about 20 bangles (those extra thin ones). Actually, she was my secretary and I wanted to rip those things off of her arms. All I could hear was cling, cling, cling, cling..... You mention earphones. What about earplugs. I just splurged and had custom made earplugs fitted. They may be more discreet. If your hair is long enough, they can cover your ears.I'll admit that you have a tough situation. I never said anything to my secretary cause I felt she wouldn't understand. In retrospect, maybe she would have understood. I also did work with someone who used to chew gum and make that horrible bubble

breaking sound inside her mouth. All I could hear was crack, crack. I thought, 'either I go insane and suffer silently (and take it out on others), become enraged and explode (likely making a fool of myself) or just pick a right time and calmly tell her to stop chewing and cracking her gum. I chose the latter. She stopped.I'll admit that we can't always get people to stop doing things - but if all else fails (earplugs or headphones), you can always go the direct route and explain that the noises are disturbing you. This may not be helpful advise to you, however; know that you're not alone. I felt totally isolated before realizing that there are others who suffer the same condition.I hope that things pan out for you at work . Keep us

posted.Margaret To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Tuesday, June 5, 2012 2:44:34 PM Subject: Misophonia at the workplace

Hi everyone! This is my first post in this group, although I have been following all your posts for a couple months now! It is great to see such a supportive environment filled with people who have been tormented with this condition just like me!

I have been dealing with misophonia since I was very young. Started with my parents chewing, then my sister coughing, then pencils tapping, then pencils against paper, then feet brushing on carpet... now I'm up to everything under the sun with my number one trigger being BANGLE BRACELETS! This might seem like a weird trigger, but when you sit in an office next to a woman who snaps her gum and rattles her bangle bracelets ALL DAY EVERY DAY (maybe I have just started to associate the bangles with the gum) it drives you nuts! I also sit in an office across from an incessant granola cruncher/cougher/sniffler.

So, here I am in my office listening the bangles/gum snapper and I just needed to vent. I just started at this job about 2 months ago, and have seen other people (in cubicles) wearing headphones. I started to wear headphones but was told a few days later by my boss that someone "at a very high level" (I'm assuming a VP) said that I was giving off the wrong impression by wearing headphones in an office. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! MY LIFE IS OVER!!!!!!!!! At my past job, I was told I gave off the wrong impression by having my office door shut all the time, so I don't want to make that mistake here. I have a small radio that plays but does nothing to block the noises coming from the door. I brought in a white noise machine, no help...

What else can I try? Do I go to HR or my boss and try to explain misophonia? Will they just assume that this is some ridiculous, made-up, crazy mental problem like my whole family assumes?

Or... do I sit here and listen the the gum and chewing and coughing and freaking BANGLE BRACELETS all day just counting down the hours until 5 pm... giving off good impressions on the outside (while being silent and angry on the inside)so I can go home at the end of the day and yell at my boyfriend for chewing his dinner too loudly??

Oh someone please find a cure...................... if some experimental drug or therapy comes out - sign me up!

Okay. Done with my rant. I will drop my mic and exit stage left.

June 5, 2012

Hi :~)I used to work with a girl who constantly sucked her fingers....literally and loudly! It was awful! Ofcourse, it was not possible to get along with this person, even though we probably would have gotten along if she didn't suck her fingers, and really loud. I guess all I can do is hope for a cure......Cat From: margaret spinoso

To: "Soundsensitivity " <Soundsensitivity > Sent: Tuesday, June 5, 2012 9:21 PM Subject: Re: Misophonia at the workplace