Science has confirmed that the more sensitive you are to sounds like chewing, slurping or swallowing noises, the more likely you are to be creative.

Misophonia, or selective sound sensitivity syndrome, is a neurological disorder that applies to people who rage out of life’s little noises.

Not loud clangs or bangs, but quiet, repetitive tones such as the stranger chewing gum on the bus seat next to us, the chronic throat-clearer at work, soup slurpers at dinner or just the general noises of a spouse eating. Sometimes the misophonia is so severe, it can send sufferers into an intense rage or turn to earphones just to get through a meal.

No, really – it’s a thing. You can even take a self-test if you think you might have it.

But there’s a small piece of good news for sufferers; a new study from America’s Northwestern University has found that the more little noises annoy you, the more creative that you are likely to be.

So if the image below is enough to set your teeth on edge, take solace in knowing that you’re probably more creative than the rest of the population.