If the sound of someone truly irritates you to an intense degree, rest assured that you are not alone.

Slate states, “The condition has a name — misophonia — and a very small but contentious community of researchers.” Research from Northwestern University demonstrated a heightened sensitivity to sounds by more creative people. It turns out more creative types have “atypical attention,” making it harder for them to filter out random noises.

Is “atypical attention” a negative? Not according to Northwestern study lead author Darya Zabelina. She adds, “If funneled in the right direction, these sensitivities can make life more rich and meaningful, giving experiences more subtlety.”

That’s right. The next time your friends call you “weird” for being annoyed at small noises, you can tell them that it’s because you’re a “creative genius.”