A desk location, team meeting, or shared lunch can each create a different barrier at work. Start with the task you need to complete and the change that would make participation more manageable. This guide offers options to discuss with a manager, human resources contact, or other relevant person.
Choose options with the person who needs them. These are discussion ideas to adapt, not requirements to apply as a package.
Workspaces and predictable sounds
Discuss moving a desk away from recurring trigger sounds, using a private office or sound-reduced work area, or changing when a sound-intensive task happens. Describe the specific difficulty rather than requesting a completely silent workplace. If moving desks is impractical, identify a quieter space that can be booked for particular tasks.
Meetings and communication
Options include different seating, a shorter meeting, joining remotely, or receiving written information. Agree how to leave and return if a break is needed, and how to receive any decisions or tasks assigned while away. A discreet message can be more practical than explaining a difficulty in front of colleagues.
Devices, breaks, and shared meals
Discuss headphones or personal sound masking where compatible with the task, communication, and safety. Consider quieter break spaces, a separate eating area, or non-food alternatives for team activities. Ask which options the person actually wants; added background sound is not useful to everyone.
Remote work and scheduling
Where the role allows, discuss remote work, adjusted hours, or changes to meeting times. Specify how communication and work responsibilities will be handled. If an arrangement is temporary, agree when to review it and what information will inform that review.
Document an arrangement that people can follow
Record the task, agreed adjustment, responsible person, request process, and review date. Share the practical information needed to implement the arrangement, with appropriate consent. Ask the employer about its process and any documentation it requests; this guide does not determine legal eligibility.
Example request
“Repetitive eating sounds in the open office interrupt my work. Could we discuss using the quieter room for focused tasks and joining the weekly lunch meeting remotely? I would like to review whether this arrangement helps after an agreed trial.”
Planning checklist
- Identify the tasks and times affected.
- Choose the adjustments you want to discuss first.
- Agree who books rooms or changes meeting arrangements.
- Check how essential communication and safety will be maintained.
- Set a review date and a way to report difficulties.
Further resources
Explore IMF’s free resources or browse the provider directory.
About these options
These ideas draw on the workplace section of IMF’s Misophonia Accessibility Input Survey. They are starting points for discussion, not findings from survey responses or a tested treatment protocol. Availability and procedures vary between providers and settings.
