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The Unbearable Loudness of Chewing—Asterisk

asteriskmag.com · 5,737 words · saved by 3 readers

Why do some people find certain sounds intolerable? And why has it taken so long for scientists to get even a preliminary answer?

Jake Eaton Why do some people find certain sounds intolerable? And why has it taken so long for scientists to get even a preliminary answer? It’s a teenage rite of passage to explode into rage at your parents. While the usual outburst is sparked by some combination of hormones, insecurity, and authority issues, for me it was a popping sound in my father’s jaw. I first noticed it at the dinner table. Every time he took a bite, the disc of cartilage that cushioned his jawbone would slip out of place and snap back. Chew, click, chew, click. Like a drum, his mouth reverberated the sound, which…

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