I Hate the Sound of Chewing!

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "I Hate the Sound of Chewing!"

Podcast: The Dr. Laura Podcast
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Air Date: October 26, 2025
Featured Callers: Celeste (11 years old) & her mother, Paula

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Overview

In this emotionally attuned episode, Dr. Laura Schlessinger addresses a family’s concern about an unusual sensitivity to chewing sounds that appeared during a long home remodel. The main discussion revolves around misophonia—a neurological disorder characterized by intense emotional reactions to specific sounds, like eating noises. Dr. Laura offers support, validation, and clear next steps to the family while empathetically navigating both the child’s distress and the parent’s uncertainty.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Presenting Issue: Sound Sensitivity After a Family Stressor

• Caller Introduction (01:15): Celeste, age 11, calls with her mother, Paula.
• Background (01:41–02:12):
  • During a home remodel, the family lived together in a small space for nearly a year.
  • Celeste developed intense anger and frustration whenever her mother or sisters chewed or ate; she had to leave the room to cope.
  • The issue is severe enough to cause tears and repeated confrontation.

2. Dr. Laura’s Assessment

• Quick Identification (02:53):

  • Dr. Laura immediately recognizes the pattern and suggests it’s likely “a neurological disorder” rather than mere annoyance or misbehavior.
  • She advises Paula to seek a therapist experienced with children who have similar sensory disorders.

  Quote:

  "That's a neurological disorder. And you need to take her to a therapist who works with children with disorders like this."
  — Dr. Laura (02:53)

3. Clarifying Family Dynamics

• Mother's Observations (06:10):

  • Paula notes the issue only occurs with herself and Celeste's sisters—not with her husband or Celeste's friends.

• Dr. Laura’s Response (06:17):

  • Dr. Laura clarifies that the specific social triggers do not diminish the seriousness or diagnostic need for the problem.

  Quote:

  "I'd still have her assessed."
  — Dr. Laura (06:18)

4. Direct Engagement with Celeste

• Testing Self-Awareness (06:56–07:12):

  • Dr. Laura asks Celeste directly whether she thinks she’s being a brat or if she recognizes her problem as real.
  • Celeste confirms her distress and seeks help, not attention.

  Quote:

  "Do you think you're being a brat or do you think you have a disorder?"
  — Dr. Laura (06:56)

  "I don't think I'm being worried about it. It's like a real... I think it's a real problem because... I agree so much. I try to..."
  — Celeste (07:04)

  Dr. Laura’s validation:

  "Right, right. So by her own words, you should get her tested for misophonia. Please."
  — Dr. Laura (07:12)

5. Advice and Next Steps

• Diagnosis & Spelling It Out (07:22–07:35):
  • Dr. Laura gives the specific term “misophonia,” spelling it out for clarity.
• Action Plan (07:35–07:39):
  • Paula thanks Dr. Laura and says she will contact a doctor.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Laura’s Immediate Diagnostic Insight:
  "That's a neurological disorder. And you need to take her to a therapist who works with children with disorders like this." (02:53)
• Trigger Specificity:
  "She's not bothered by any friends or my husband, so it just happens to be myself and her two sisters." — Paula (06:22)
• Turning to the Caller’s Voice:
  "Do you think you're being a brat or do you think you have a disorder?" — Dr. Laura (06:56)
• Celeste’s Honest Recognition:
  "I don't think I'm being worried about it. It's like a real... I think it's a real problem because... I agree so much. I try to..." — Celeste (07:04)
• Dr. Laura’s Advocacy:
  "By her own words, you should get her tested for misophonia. Please." (07:12)
• Helpful Detail:
  Dr. Laura carefully spells "misophonia" for the mother: "M-I-S-O-P-H-O-N-I-A." (07:25)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:15] – Introduction of Celeste and her family situation
• [01:41–02:12] – Celeste describes her reaction to chewing sounds
• [02:53] – Dr. Laura identifies likely misophonia and gives first advice
• [06:10–06:22] – Further clarifications on triggers and family context
• [06:56–07:12] – Dr. Laura has Celeste self-reflect, validates her experience
• [07:22–07:39] – Spelling “misophonia” and agreeing on next steps

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Tone and Style

• Dr. Laura’s tone is direct, authoritative, and compassionate.
• She is quick to validate Celeste’s experience, ensuring the family knows this is a medical/neurological issue rather than mere behavior.
• The dialog is approachable, practical, and empowering, especially for families facing unfamiliar behavioral challenges.

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Takeaway

Dr. Laura underscores the importance of listening to children's self-reports about their distress and seeking professional assessment for sudden, intense sensitivities—especially when triggered by unique family stressors. The episode closes with clear direction for getting help and a supportive affirmation for the family, modeling constructive, stigma-free dialogue around mental health and neurological differences.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

Thanks for listening to my call of the Day podcast. You can hear my live radio program Monday through Friday from 2 to 5pm Eastern Time on Sirius XM Triumph 111. Mom and Celeste, welcome to the program.

[C]

Hi. Thank you.

[A]

Celeste, how old are you?

[C]

I'm 11.

[A]

You have any brothers or sisters?

[C]

I have two sisters.

[A]

And how old are they?

[C]

Thirteen and eight. Nine.

[A]

Got it. Okay, you're the middle kid. All right. What can I do to help you?

[C]

Well, I. We remodeled my house. And me and my siblings, my mom all lived in. Well, yeah, my. I lived in a tent outside. But we all lived in this, like, little space. And during that, I developed a problem of when my siblings or my mom would chew or eat. It would make me, like, really mad and really frustrated. So I always have to walk outside of the room.

[A]

Okay, I. I didn't understand that. Mom, you want to help me with that? What?

[C]

Sure. Yeah. So we. Remodels are. Okay. Sorry. Okay, so we remodeled our home, and we all just lived in a small space for about nine months, almost a year. And so during that time, while our house was getting remodeled, we just all lived in a small space. And then Celeste still developed this issue where not so much my husband, but if I would chew. And I mean, we have manners, but anything we would eat between the two sisters and me, she would get really upset. So the point where she would tell us to stop eating, cry.

[A]

Paula, Paula, Paula. That's a neurological disorder. And you need to take her to a therapist who works with children with disorders like this. So go on the net or call your pediatrician, because this is not Celeste being annoying. This is a problem. Turn off the radio, put down your devices, get your whole family creating with Kiwico Kiwico art and science kits inspire creativity and they're a heck of a lot of fun. I love mine with projects available for ages 1 to 100. That does include me. There's an awesome Kiwico crate for every mom, dad and kiddo, and everything you need is delivered right to your door. Each month. KiwiCo's team of educators, makers, engineers and scientists spend over a thousand hours designing and testing each of their crates and it shows in their quality. I'm working on three cool Kiwico projects myself, a motion sensing spider just in time for Halloween, a radio controlled robot, and a motorized spin art. I'm having a good time. Tinker create and innovate with Kiwico. Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com promo code DRLaura that's up to 50% off your first Crate at k I w I c o.com promo code DRLORA when work gets crazy.

[B]

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[A]

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[C]

Do you. Is it concerning that it just developed when we were in a small space and it never before?

[A]

No.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I'd still have her assessed.

[C]

Okay. And the other thing I just would like to say she's not bothered by any friends or my husband, so it just happens to be myself and her two sisters.

[A]

Can you give the assessment anyway? Can you get the ass? Okay. I can't help you more than tell you she needs to be assessed for misophonia. If you think she's just being a brat, we'll find out.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

Right, Celeste?

[C]

So you said.

[A]

Right, Celeste? So do you think you're being a brat or do you think you have a disorder?

[C]

I don't think I'm being worried about it. It's like a real. I think it's a real problem because it's. I agree so much. I try to conclude.

[A]

Right, right. So by her own words, you should get her tested for misophonia. Please.

[C]

Absolutely. You said misofolia.

[A]

M I S O P H O N I A.

[C]

Thank you very much. I will call the doctor right now.

[A]

Okay. Excellent. Thank you both for your call. Bye, Celeste.

[C]

Bye. Thank you.

[A]

You're welcome. Sweet kid. My number, 1-800-375-2872. Check out my social media on Facebook and Instagram. I post stories, photos and videos seven days a week and feature some of what you sent me, too. There's always something interesting going on there. You can find me at facebook.com drlaura and and instagram.com drlauraprogram Mr.

[B]

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