Communicating About Misophonia: A Style Guide
Best practices for covering this topic in an accurate, kind, and accessible way.
by CJ Gibson and the soQuiet Lived Experience Advisory Panel
Overall
Preferred:
Engage with people with actual lived experience
Avoid:
Speculating about lived experience
Tips:
Don’t know how to reach someone with lived expertise? Contact the Lived Experience Advisory Panel at leap@soquiet.org
When referencing lived experience, prioritize accuracy by drawing from those who are actually affected by misophonia and/or misokinesia. Firsthand perspectives provide essential insight and help ensure that communication remains respectful and grounded in reality.
Assumptions or imagined narratives about what people “must feel” risk misrepresentation and can unintentionally reinforce stigma. Direct engagement with lived experience offers the most reliable and accurate understanding of these conditions.
Terminology
Preferred:
”people who experience misophonia”
“person living with misophonia”
Tip:
Common use in casual contexts doesn’t always mean a term is best for professional ones.
Avoid:
misophone[s], misophonic[s], misophoniac[s], miso[s], et. al.
In formal writing, strive for “people first” language. Though some communities may prefer identity-first terminology, it is generally recommended to use terms that avoid labeling or pigeonholing others or ourselves by a condition or disability.
(“Misophonic” may be used as an adjective in some cases, such as “misophonic triggers” or “misophonic experience,” but not as a noun.)
Terms like “misophones” or “misos” are used commonly among people who live with misophonia as informal slang or in-community group-building language. People who do not experience misophonia should use these terms with caution or, when in doubt, avoid them altogether in their communication.
Preferred:
”misophonia” (lowercase), consistent with other health conditions
Avoid:
Misophonia (capitalized)
Writing misophonia in lowercase helps avoid unintentionally amplifying or sensationalizing the condition. Capitalizing it as a proper noun can create the impression that misophonia is a branded or exceptional entity, which may detract from its recognition as a legitimate medical or psychological condition.
Using lowercase aligns misophonia with other health conditions such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and generalized anxiety disorder, presenting misophonia as one of many health experiences rather than something extraordinary or separate.
Preferred:
“Their misophonia is triggered”
Preferred:
”Sights and sounds my body makes activate their misophonia.”
“That typing sound triggers some misophonic reactions.”
Avoid:
”They are triggered.”
Avoid:
”I trigger them.”
“They are triggered by that person.”
A misophonic reaction is not a matter of being offended, not a matter of preferences, nor is it voluntary. Terminology that does not place fault or blame upon the person experiencing misophonia should always be used.
Similarly, saying “[Person] is triggered by [person]” inaccurately suggests personal blame or responsibility for another’s misophonic reaction. Some misophonia cues come from bodies; however, the person who creates these cues does not directly cause the response—the misophonia does. Using phrasing that emphasizes the sensory triggers rather than the individual helps clarify the involuntary nature of misophonia and avoids assigning fault.
Preferred:
”evidence-based treatments are currently sparse but there is progress being made”
”research is active on potential treatments”
”with effective resources, a person can lead a fulfilling life with misophonia”
Avoid:
overemphasizing a lack of cure for misophonia
Few mental health or sensory conditions have a clear-cut “cure,” and focusing heavily on the absence of one can contribute to discouragement and stigma, implying hopelessness or permanence. This framing overlooks ongoing research and the many ways people with misophonia find relief and coping strategies. Emphasizing available treatments helps communicate practical ways to manage symptoms without portraying the condition as insurmountable.
Some people with misophonia may not seek a “cure,” viewing the condition as connected to heightened awareness or other strengths. Presenting it solely as something to eliminate risks framing the experience as negative and dismissing individual perspectives. Materials should acknowledge the diversity of experiences and the ongoing development of strategies for living well, even when certain triggers remain challenging.
Preferred:
”frustrated”
”extreme discomfort”
”anxiety”
Tips:
In community spaces, people with misophonia might depict aggressive intrusive thoughts as a way of articulating the intensity of their distress. However, few people with misophonia actually engage in violence (Vitoratou et al., 2021; Jager et al., 2020; Siepsiak et al., 2020). Avoid sensationalizing these rare instances of violent thoughts or actions.
Avoid:
”sound rage”
”violence”
When describing misophonic responses, it is important to avoid language that implies aggression or intent to harm. Misophonic reactions involve overwhelming discomfort, panic, or anxiety—none of which are voluntary or purposeful.
Using terms like “sound rage” or “violence” or sensationalizing of violent intrusive thoughts can contribute to harmful stigma, framing an involuntary sensory response as something dangerous or hostile. These labels distort the nature of misophonia and may lead to misunderstandings about those who experience it.
Imagery
Preferred:
Positive depictions of people who live with misophonia.
Avoid:
Depictions of misophonia triggers in photos, video, or audio.
Tips:
Include mentions of visual triggers whenever possible in any materials covering misophonia. About 30% of people with misophonia may also have misokinesia (Jaswal et al., 2021), and it’s still not understood whether they’re distinct disorders. It’s important to include misokinesia under the misophonia umbrella whenever possible so that people with misokinesia have access to resources, as well.
Visual representations that include common misophonic triggers—such as chewing, tapping, or breathing—can be distressing and counterproductive, especially in educational or advocacy contexts. These depictions risk activating the very responses the viewer may be trying to understand or avoid.
Instead, using neutral and recognizable symbols like headphones, earplugs, or visual metaphors for overwhelm or sensory sensitivity can communicate the concept of misophonia without causing harm. These alternatives respect the lived experience of people with misophonia while still raising awareness and fostering understanding.
Too often, media about misophonia is inaccessible to people with misophonia because of the inclusion of triggering images and sounds. Most people know what these common sounds are, so vividly depicting them is unnecessary.
Preferred:
Images that depict day-to-day responses, positive representations of people living with misophonia
Avoid:
Images that depict overly dramatic, severe, uncommon, externalizing responses
Many stock images exaggerate reactions, showing hands pressed over the ears or arms outstretched, which suggests the condition is always outwardly dramatic or socially disruptive.
In reality, people with misophonia and/or misokinesia often navigate daily life without drawing attention to their reactions. Symptoms are usually internalized or expressed through small gestures—such as lightly covering the ears or subtle facial tension—rather than theatrical displays. Visuals that reflect these typical, day-to-day responses convey the impact of misophonia without sensationalizing it and help audiences understand that distress can exist even when it is not immediately visible.
Choosing realistic depictions ensures materials are relatable, accurate, and inclusive, while avoiding dramatized portrayals that can misinform or alienate viewers.
Video, Audio, Media
Preferred:
Descriptions of trigger stimuli without onomatopoeic terms
Use of trigger warnings
Avoid:
Demonstrating actual triggers in audio or visuals
This remains one of the most common and harmful issues in materials about misophonia and misokinesia. Content that reproduces actual triggers may seem illustrative to people without lived experience but can cause immediate distress for those who experience these conditions. It also excludes community members from safely engaging with materials about their own experience.
No one needs to be exposed to specific sounds or visuals to understand misophonia. The goal is not to identify which stimuli provoke reactions, but to convey the intensity, involuntary nature, and emotional impact of those reactions. Demonstrating examples can lead people without misophonia to underestimate the experience, assuming it is a minor irritation or a personal dislike rather than an overwhelming internal response.
Content warnings—brief statements noting that materials include common triggers or discussion of said triggers—allow people with lived experience to make informed decisions about engagement. Warnings can appear at the start of a document, presentation, or video, or even mid-video, with guidance on when it is safe to return. This helps maintain accessibility while avoiding unnecessary distress.