Prevalence of Misophonia in Turkish High School Students

Misophonia is a condition characterized by decreased tolerance and heightened sensitivity to specific sounds. It is more closely related to the character of the sound than to its intensity and is often reported to begin during childhood or early adolescence. Misophonia may negatively affect students' social interactions and academic performance, particularly in school environments where exposure to auditory stimuli is unavoidable.

This cross-sectional descriptive prevalence study aims to determine the prevalence and severity of misophonia among high school students in Kayseri and Samsun, Turkey. The study population will include students in grades 9 through 12 attending selected high schools. Students with hearing loss, chronic illness, severe psychological disorders, intellectual disabilities, or those outside the defined age range will be excluded.

Data will be collected using a sociodemographic data form and the 10-item Amsterdam Misophonia Scale-Revised (AMISOS-R), a validated self-report instrument assessing the presence and severity of misophonia symptoms. Statistical analyses will be conducted to evaluate the distribution of misophonia symptoms and their associations with demographic variables. The study will be conducted in accordance with ethical principles.

Inclusion criteria

• Students enrolled in grades 9 through 12
• Students without diagnosed hearing loss
• Students without chronic illness
• Students without severe psychological disorders

Exclusion criteria

• Students with diagnosed hearing loss
• Students with any chronic illness
• Students with severe psychological disorders
• Students outside the defined age range
• Students who are illiterate
• Students with intellectual disabilities