Misophonia rant - exam invigilator chomped through exam

[Macca84]

Just need a rant!! I've got misophonia and the worst possible sound to me is somebody eating and not being able to keep their mouths shut whilst doing so. I had a 3 hour exam today, one that I'd prepared so hard for, then all the way through I wasn't able to concentrate properly as I had to listen to to exam invigilator chomping apples through most of the exam - most of it I spent trying not to hear it sounds or discretely covering my ears and trying to read the paper and attempting to control my rage. I'm normally fairly calm but this kind of situation is a fooking nightmare to me. Just REEAALLY needed to get that off my chest!!

Urgh sorry for typos, my brain is fried - 2.5 hours each way, 3 hour exam plus misophonia-induced rage clearly does nothing for my grammar

I’d have asked them to stop. That’s really inconsiderate. An adult can go for three hours without eating.

He ate apples for 3 hours solid? You’d get through about 36 by my reckoning!

I don’t think chomping on an apple is appropriate. Sucking a sweet or sipping a cold drink from a glass is ok.

I would have said something .

How many apples did they eat? Honestly an exam that long they couldn't have eaten more than a couple surely....

Examination candidates aren’t normally allowed to eat noisily, so invigilators shouldn’t.

3 apples. Sloooowly. There was around 20-30 minutes of respite between each apple. I'm hoping I didn't subconsciously plot out murder on my answer sheet The atmosphere felt really formal so I didn't feel I could ask, though probably should have - was NOT expecting 3 apples to make an appearance though! Also I've had to drum it into my head all my that my misophonia is my problem and not anybody else's so I'd have felt rude asking him, weird I know considering the rage I felt at the time!!

@Macca84

I’m not one for pandering but in this instance I do think he shouldn’t have eaten apples during the exam.

They crunch!

They crunch, and he was slurping as he bit, then smacking his lips when he chewed... nightmare!!! So I had to deal with the conflicting emotions of thinking violent thoughts, whilst also not wanting to be rude, whilst also really wanting to pass my exam! I've had a wee rant now though and have just poured a glass of wine... all is good again (until I get the results and find out I've failed 😱 and will obviously secretly blame apple man)

Was it a public exam? A level? Totally totally unacceptable- you should have complained. I'm not one for students who are precious about invigilators walking too noisily or stuff like that but honestly that's not on. We'd be crucified at my school if we tried that whilst invigilating an exam and would have parents in the phone after to complain!

Plus I'm 35 so feel waaay to old to be sitting exams in any case 🤪

I feel angry on your behalf!

Crunchy apples in an exam. What a total arse hole's! !!

At the moment, at my school, we're told off if we breath too loudly at the other end of the building in case we disturb candidates (not quite but almost anyway)!

No way!! I feel for you op that would of tipped me over the edge.
Surely he shouldn’t be slurping and apple in a quiet environment omg how annoying!!!

I had a three hour exam today and if anyone had crunched apples all the way through it they would have had one of my (many) spare pens rammed in their jugular!

Exams are stressful as it is without having to put up with that sort of crap!

How did you not get arrested for murder??

No, it's exams I need to pass in order to get chartered status in my profession. I'd find it hard complaining as I've drummed it into myself it's my problem to deal with - but I think if I need to take any more (likely) I'll mention to the invigilator at the start that I'd really appreciate it if they could enforce the no eating rule as it really distracts me... either that or I'll be taking really good earplugs!

Invigilatiion staff shouldn’t be eating, period! I’d complain.

Why three?! That's sabotage.
I hope you passed op

Feel your pain. He deserves to be professionally chastised for this. Write to you university / exam board while the rage is hot and before your paper is marked. Send evidence of the distress caused by misophonia. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5808324/
And see if you can get permission to wear headphones with a white noise generator or sit in a separate room next time.

Ironic that most of the exam was related to law - if I have described murder it'll be in a legal context on the plus side if I have passed, I can give myself a bigger pat on the back for passing whilst coping with murderous thoughts!!

Oh god. OP, why didn't you tell him to shut up? You really should have said something. That would have driven me insane.

My daughter has misophonia and has been given a separate space to sit her exams. You need to explain and ask for special measures. Also complain. Eating loudly in an exam is just not on.

Some students wear earplugs in exams. Might that help in the future?

Blimey, I don't have misophonia and am not normally bothered by noise apart from dh's breathing but that would have done my head in!

I've been invigilating this week and we were given a big list of things we weren't allowed to do and one thing on that list was eat. We're not allowed to talk or make any unnecessary noise at all.

I would complain in your position op.