Have you ever thought noises affected you a certain way? Does it always seem like you have a fear of loud noises? Then this article is for you.
For anyone, loud noises can be an unpleasant experience especially when it comes as a surprise. For others, they can never be prepared enough for a loud noise.
Fear of loud noises is referred to as either phonophobia, sonophobia, or ligyrophobia. People with this condition find loud noises to be overwhelming. It can cause anxiety or trigger a panic attack.
Phonophobia is just like every other phobia which is an irrational fear of certain objects or situations. It is not due to a hearing disorder or similar issues. People with this condition dread the existence of unexpected loud noises.
Is it treatable? What are the symptoms? When exactly do you know you have a phobia for loud noises? Let’s find out.
When Your Fear of Loud Noises Is A Phobia
Finding a person who likes loud noises is extremely rare. Car horns, car alarms, ambulance sirens, sharp sounds, and other loud sounds might be more acceptable by people who do not have Phonophobia.
To them, some noises are more pleasant than others. However, if you have phonophobia, no matter what loud noise it is, pleasant or unpleasant, it overwhelms you.
This condition can leave a person feeling stressed and anxious at all time. You’ll always anticipate loud noises but never being truly prepared for it. It may come with extreme reactions physically and it takes a toll on them mentally.
Fear Of Loud Noises in Children and Adults
How can you tell if your child has a fear of loud noises and it isn’t just a common fear or a phase they are going through? It is normal for small children to react to loud noises. But for most children, this reaction and fear is mild.
Just like adults, little children can fear loud noises and it can follow them up to their adulthood if not addressed. If a child has an intense fear for a period of 3-6 months, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional.
Adults and older children on the other hand, can be certain of this phobia as it prevents them from a number of activities. Sometimes it’s something they keep to themselves.
Not everyone can thrive in a noisy environment, for the individual with phonophobia, they can find it difficult to pay attention in class, carry out an activity, or even enjoy bars and clubs.
People with this phobia can find it difficult to sleep or being left alone as that’s when the noises around them suddenly intensifies.
What Are the Symptoms of Phonophobia?
Symptoms of Phonophobia ranges from difficulty enjoying everyday life and activities due to loud noises to an intense fear and anticipation of sharp, unnerving sounds.
Individuals with this condition may experience the following symptoms when expecting a loud sound, experiencing it, and after the experience. These symptoms include:
- Fear.
- Anxiety.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness.
- Chest pain.
- Racing heartbeat.
- Fainting.
- Nausea.
- Sweating.
- Lightheaded.
Other Conditions Similar To Phonophobia
Phonophobia isn’t the only condition that can be as a result of fear of loud noises. Other conditions that can make loud noises a complete discomfort include:
1. Misophonia
Misophonia is a not considered a phobia. However, it causes an emotional reaction to sounds. People with this condition can have deep, intense emotional reactions to sound. It could be hatred for a particular sound or they panic when they hear a particular sound.
With Misophonia, the sound does not have to be loud to create anxiety and uneasiness. Sounds are usually also very specific such as a person snoring or chewing loudly, dripping faucets etc.
2. Hyperacusis
This condition is more of a hearing disorder which causes sounds to feel louder than they actually are. It has a number of causes such as exposure to loud noises, inner ear aging, Lyme disease, brain trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The range of reactions and emotions attached to the faux loud sounds can vary from person to person. It is usually associated with tinnitus.
Treatment For Fear of Loud Noises
The treatment of this phobia varies due to the severity of fear and intensity of the reaction. If the fear of loud noises is holding back your social life and affecting you mentally, then you need to seek help from a medical health professional.
Treatments range from exposure therapy to talk therapy. Exposure therapy is placing a subject in an environment which exposes them to the object of their fears, but in a more controlled manner.
Talk therapy can also be a go-to for some individuals. This involves counseling with a mental health profession about certain triggers, reactions, fears and the true origin of this phobia. The therapist will then help you rationalize your phobia.
Other methods of treatment include various self-help techniques such as support groups, muscle relaxation, meditation and yoga, positive self talk, hypnotherapy, and so much more.
Someone who suffers from Phonophobia will need to tell their family about their fears. This makes them more conscious of the noises they make and will help those with Phonophobia stay sane and calm while looking for more permanent solutions.
