Imagine this: someone’s chewing gum across the room, and suddenly your brain is on fire. Your heart’s racing. You’re angry, anxious, ready to scream—or maybe cry. That’s misophonia, and no, you’re not imagining it.

You’re not “too sensitive.” You’re not being dramatic. You’re dealing with a real, neurological condition—and there are ways to manage it.

Hi, I’m Dr. Jennifer Elfert, Au.D., and at the New Jersey Hearing & Tinnitus Center (NJHTC), we help people take control back from their sound triggers. One surprising but powerful tool? Low gain hearing aids.

What Is Misophonia?

Misophonia means “hatred of sound,” but that’s a little misleading—it’s not about all sound, just specific ones. Common triggers include:

• Chewing
• Sniffling
• Typing
• Breathing
• Lip smacking
• Clicking pens

What’s Actually Happening?

Misophonia isn’t just about your ears—but your brain’s reaction to sound. Your auditory system is closely connected with emotional centers like the amygdala. When it detects a trigger, it reacts like you’re in danger.

This isn’t a choice. It’s a reflex—and one that can seriously disrupt daily life.

The Low Gain Hearing Aid Solution

Most people think of hearing aids as something you use when you can’t hear. But with misophonia, we use them differently. Low gain hearing aids amplify ambient sounds just enough to create a masking effect. This
helps:

• Reduce the contrast between trigger sounds and background noise
• Distract the brain with more neutral input
• Calm the fight-or-flight response

Some models also include a dedicated **masking program** that plays soft background sounds—like white noise, ocean waves, or gentle static—to help further neutralize triggers in real time.

In other words: your brain stops obsessing over that one sound it hates.

Why It Works (and Why It’s Safe)

Unlike white noise machines, low gain hearing aids let in the real-world sounds you actually need—like conversations, music, or your own voice. They’re discreet, comfortable, and tuned to your environment.

They’re not a cure—but for many people, they’re a game-changer.

We Customize Everything

At NJHTC, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter fixes. If you’re struggling with sound sensitivity, we’ll:

• Do a full sound tolerance assessment
• Identify your triggers
• Program low gain devices tailored to your life
• Set up masking programs if needed
• Follow up to adjust settings and track improvement

You’re not alone—and you don’t have to keep suffering in silence (or from silence).

Ready to Regain Control?
If sounds are ruining your day, let’s change that. Call us at 732-942-7220, email njhearingtinnitus@gmail.com, or visit us at www.njhearingandtinnitus.com to schedule a misophonia consultation.