Over the last several years, there’s been a surge in the popularity of ASMR videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. But what are they? Dr. Sara Hanley, Au.D. explains why this sound-related phenomenon has caught fire and highlights an unfortunate condition on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Bridget in Bloomington asks, “I heard my daughter talking about ASMR. Could you explain what that is, and why it seems to be popular?” Bridget, ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, and it’s actually a kind of tingling sensation that usually starts up at the scalp, and then works down the back of the neck and upper spine. For some people, it’s a reaction to specific sounds. They cause these sensations and can bring a feeling of euphoria, relaxation, and well-being. There’s really not any scientific research about ASMR, at this point, or what causes it. Or why some people experience it and others don’t. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s something called Misophonia, that’s actually a disorder where people have more of a negative intolerance to specific sounds. It triggers a really intense feeling of more anger, anxiety, like, “I need to escape from this sound.” So if you’ve heard of these ASMR videos, that’s what they are. It’s there for people who really find that to be relaxing as a soothing kind of sound. And they’re just videos for people to kind of meditate or relax. I’m Dr. Sara Hanley from Bloomington-Normal Audiology, and we’re ‘hear’ for you.