The association between misophonia and autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of the literature

Misophonia is an emerging condition characterized by intense emotional and physiological reactions to specific auditory triggers, yet its relationship with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains poorly understood. Given that both conditions share atypical sensory processing and difficulties in emotion regulation, this thesis aimed to systematically review the literature published between 2020 and 2025 on their potential overlap. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, six empirical studies were included, examining (a) the prevalence of ASD in misophonia populations, (b) the prevalence of misophonia in autistic populations, and (c) correlations between misophonia severity and autistic traits. Findings revealed that misophonia is significantly more prevalent among autistic individuals (30–35%) compared to non-autistic controls (7–15%), while ASD diagnoses or traits were also elevated in misophonia samples, though with high variability across studies. Correlational evidence further suggested shared cognitive and sensory mechanisms, particularly involving attention switching and detail orientation. Neuroimaging findings highlighted overlapping hyperactivation of the insula and amygdala, pointing to converging pathways of sensory-emotional dysregulation. Overall, results suggest a meaningful but complex association between misophonia and ASD, with implications for diagnosis, treatment, and clinical recognition. However, heterogeneity in methods and reliance on self-report highlight the need for larger, well-controlled studies. Future research should clarify causal mechanisms and explore targeted interventions for individuals affected by both conditions.