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difficulties with emotional regulation as a a core trait of Misophonia and a possible differential diagnostic factor for Misophonia vs hyperacusis

In a 2025 study, Aryal examined whether difficulties with emotion regulation differentiate misophonia from hyperacusis by assessing the relationship between emotion regulation and symptom severity in adults with clinically significant misophonia using self-report questionnaires. They found that greater difficulties with emotion regulation were associated with greater misophonia but not hyperacusis severity after controlling for age and the other sound intolerance condition; misophonia severity was specifically related to difficulties with goal-directed behavior, impulse control, access to strategies, and nonacceptance. From this they concluded that difficulties with emotion regulation may be a clinical feature that differentiates misophonia from hyperacusis and that interventions targeting emotion regulation may be useful in the treatment of misophonia (Aryal et al., 2025).