¿La hiperacusia es una forma de autismo?

Decreased Sound Tolerance Disorders (DSTD), such as hyperacusis (physical pain or discomfort from everyday sounds) and misophonia (strong emotional reactions to specific trigger sounds like chewing or tapping), are indeed very common in individuals on the autism spectrum.

Because autistic individuals often experience differences in sensory processing, everyday environments can sometimes feel overwhelming or painfully loud.

Here is a quick breakdown of the two most common types:

• Hyperacusis: A heightened sensitivity to the volume of ambient sounds. Ordinary noises like a vacuum cleaner, a blender, or chatter in a hallway can register as uncomfortably loud or physically painful.

• Misophonia: A strong negative emotional or physiological reaction (such as anger, panic, or disgust) to specific, often repetitive pattern sounds—most commonly oral sounds like chewing, breathing, or throat-clearing, or mechanical sounds like clicking pens.

Managing these sensitivities often involves strategies like using noise-canceling headphones, creating quiet rest spaces, or working with a specialist (such as an occupational therapist or audiologist) on customized sensory coping tools.