Phonophobia: The fear of sounds

A balloon popping, a firework going off, an ambulance siren: there are sounds that can be literally "frightening." But after a brief moment of shock, most people quickly forget about them. 

However, there are people for whom such noises, or similar ones, are far worse. Even the thought of them can cause them great anxiety, because they suffer from phonophobia.

What is phonophobia?

Phonophobia, also known as ligyrophobia or sonophobia, refers to the fear of certain sounds. The term comes from Greek and can be roughly translated as "fear of sounds" (phono = sound, phobos = fear).

Phonophobia is a very rare anxiety disorder that often results from sensitivity or hypersensitivity to noise or, for example, from other mental disorders.  

When affected individuals hear a certain sound, they usually experience intense fear, which can even lead to panic attacks. Typical triggers can be noise or loud bangs. Often, but not exclusively, these are loud noises.

Phonophobia, misophonia, and hyperacusis

While misophonia manifests itself in those affected as anger, hatred, or disgust toward certain sounds, phonophobia is a panic-stricken fear of these sounds. Phonophobia is therefore sometimes seen as an extreme form of misophonia. 

In addition, phonophobia is often considered to be related to hyperacusis, or even a symptom of it. Hyperacusis refers to a pathological sensitivity to noise or hypersensitivity to sound.

Phonophobia symptoms

As with many illnesses, the symptoms of phonophobia can vary greatly depending on the individual and the severity of the disorder.

The most common symptoms include a sometimes overwhelming feeling of anxiety and associated palpitations, tremors, and sweating, sometimes accompanied by panic attacks.

These symptoms occur as soon as the affected person hears a certain sound or even just expects to hear it.

Causes of phonophobia

The causes of phonophobia also vary greatly. Among other things, so-called noise trauma, i.e., traumatic experiences with loud noises, can lead to phonophobia. 

Phonophobia can also develop as part of an anxiety disorder and hyperacusis, i.e., hypersensitivity to noise. Genetic predisposition may also play a role.

Trigger sounds: the triggers of phonophobia

People who suffer from phonophobia are afraid of certain sounds or of being exposed to them. These sounds are not always excessively loud; in most cases, they are everyday noises that people without anxiety disorders would consider completely normal. Nevertheless, those affected often perceive them as harmful to their health or threatening.

Like the symptoms and causes, the triggers of phonophobia also vary greatly. Below are a few examples of these trigger sounds:

• sirens
• fireworks
• vacuum cleaner noise
• Car horns
• baby crying
• phone ringing
• doorbell
• Loud conversations
• construction noise
• Loud music

Social and psychological consequences of phonophobia

Phonophobia is not only very stressful for those affected at the moment of fear, but often beyond that as well. People with phonophobia may try to avoid frightening noises and situations in which they could occur at all costs. Since, as the above examples show, these are often everyday noises, social isolation is sometimes the result.

Withdrawal from everyday life, social contacts, public events, etc., can have further psychological consequences, including anxiety and depression.

Treatment: Therapies for phonophobia

As with other anxiety disorders, treatment for phonophobia is usually preceded by an accurate diagnosis by a doctor or psychotherapist. Together with the patient, they decide on a suitable treatment method.

Possible therapies for phonophobia include cognitive behavioral therapy, which aims to change behavior by specifically altering thought patterns and behaviors.

Sound therapies can also be helpful for phonophobia. Here, patients learn, for example, to gradually get used to certain noises in order to reduce their sensitivity to sound.

In addition, the use of medication can also be useful in some cases.