Excessive Throat Clearing

I'm so glad I'm not alone! I literally googled "annoying throat clearing", just to see if anyone else was with me on this, and this was the first site that came up. This woman sits three desks in front of me, I've counted her clearing her throat up to 6 times in two minutes. She's a very nice lady, and I understand she can't help it, but I have to have my earphones on blasting music all day, that's the only way I can get throught it. My co-worker and I want to start a support group, haha. But, I work for a small company, and I don't want to be "that person" who tells her how annoying it is. I'm also envious of people who can ignore it, because I'm just not one of those people! Has ANYONE have any success asking this "TC" person to stop and had success? Let me know!!!

This fucking blows. I have a guy sitting next to me who clears his throat thunderously at least once a minute. You can hear him easily from across the entire building. I really don't think the guy has any kind of throat condition, it's just an annoying tic he has. All day, every day, I have to listen to repeated Earth-shaking "UUMMMHH-URRRRGH!!!"s. Sometimes I don't realize the guy is around, then he stealthily sneaks up and lets one fly, jolting me out of my seat in startlement. Please kill me now.

I thought it was just me. It is refreshing to hear others are enduring the same issue! I've shared an office for 1 1/2 years with my supervisor who is young (27) and clears her throat at least 3 times every 5 minutes. She has more anxiety and nervous habits than anyone I've ever met, including laughing hysterically at anything, saying "Just Kidding" after speaking to anyone - including phone calls, clipping her nails at the desk, biting and sucking on her fingers throughout the day, cracking her knuckles, whistling, sending a minimum of 50 text messages a day, etc. But the throat clearing drives me more insane than any of the others. I tried clearing my throat every time she did, and it just made my throat sore while she laughed and said "This is crazy, you need to clear your throat at the exact time I do." She is clueless and even if I said something to her directly she would just laugh. I like the idea of handing her a bag of cough drops and mentioning I noticed her throat was irritated, but I don't think she'd get the hint. To make it worse, she rents an apartment from our HR Director. When I went to talk to HR they simply said "She's young." Last year I suggested she take an anxiety management class which she finally did about 2 months ago and came back saying "Ahhh, they made me particpate!!" If she was sick, this was a medical condition, or side effect of meds I could understand, but this is a nervous habit that I don't think she realizes she's doing. As someone below also mentioned, she can control the throat clearing during office meetings, as long as she doesn't have to present something. Using headphones doesn't cover up anything and I feel like I'm about to go postal!

I have had this throat clearing problem for many years and it is quite problematic for me. Does any one else have this constant need to clear their throat? By the way it's contagious. I caught it and have given it to many people. .

NO one has offered one constructive explanation save the person who wrote about "Helicobacter pylori" fungus which, I will be googling momentarily. But clearly, there is a common theme to what my co-workers and I like to call excessive TC-ing (Throat Clearing). Let me clarify, that I am NOT referring to TC-ing because you have allergies, nasal drip, a sinus condition, or ANY OTHER MEDICAL MALADY. I am referring to my co-worker who has not taken one FREAKING sick day this entire year and continues TC....

IT is not a simple "ahem" it is a "ERRRHMMMMM" "EEEHHMMMM" Yesterday it happened every 2 seconds at different volumes for OVER A HALF AN HOUR, I timed it. For the love of all that is good and holy, will someone who has a background in behavioral science, or a friend who studies nervous ticks, tourettes, or the like come on here and explain to me WTF is going on with the incessant throat clearing. I really like my co-worker, I really do...I just want answers so that I can continue to restrain myself from leaping across the cubicle to ring his neck or worse, in a fit of weakness shout out "WHAT IS IT???? WHAT THE !@@$ IS IN YOUR THROAT!!! STOP THAT!" Please cyber space, don't fail me now.

Interesting conversation, I thought I was alone in this. My mother clears her throat from deep in her chest, and once she gets going she'll keep it up for hours and it is loud. I thought I was going to lose my mind thinking that it shouldn't bother me so much, so it's a relief that I'm not the only one who feels like leaping to the ceiling like Sophia Myles in Underworld whenever I hear that sound. I think now it's the pitch that really does it, as some folks' throat-clearing has no effect on me, while others does. Thank you everyone who has posted a medical remedy for this problem -- I'm going to test out each and every one!

I have the same problem. My co-worker and I have 2 individuals who have what we call "the ETC" (excessive throat clearing). For the past 5 years (since I've worked in my current department) the two individuals do this all day long. It's like they are a tag team. One is a male in his 30's while the other is a female in her 50's.

Early in the morning, the male comes in and the throat clearing begins. His throat clearning sounds sort of like HURR HURR HURR (I do not know if I'm spelling it correctly but you, the reader, get the idea). It's like he has flem in his throat and he's trying to cough it up, but it's bonded to his throat so he just clears his throat over & over & over. The female comes in later in the morning, and my co-worker and I know when she arrives because she starts doing her throat clearning as well. Her throat clearing sounds sort of like an old lawn mower that does not want to crank up. It's very annoying and in my opinion very inconsiderate. They should go to a doctor and get that checked out. Over the years, my co-worker and I have tried to make the best of it. We have taken tallies (counts) to see how many times these individuals clear their throats. The last time we did our count, we clocked the male clearing his throat at 4 times a minute. We even went online and downloaded sound clips of people clearing their throats and started playing it on our computer so that the throat-clearers might get the hint. But ohhhh no, they just keep on clearing their throats over and over. I once asked the female if she had a cold, and she said "Not me." I approached the male and asked him the same question and even gave him suggestions to get rid of the problem (i.e. saline, saltwater gargles), but all he said was "No man, it's this thing I have. It only happens here."

My co-worker and I do not know what to do. We've tried putting on headphones and listen to music, but we both found out that we can still hear the throat-clearers. My next stop is to ask for a transfer to another department in the company.

I've got the same problem. But what's interesting to me is that this person is loud in everything that he does. I can't understand how come some people are so insensitive toward others. He butts into conversions that are across the room, slams cabinet doors that are right next to me, and turns his speaker phone (very loud) just to dial which he does very slowly. He may have an irritation in his throat but he doesn't have to do what he does. It is so loud and over the top. I think it becomes a habit after a while. Everyone that doesn't have to put up with this is, of course, sympathetic to him.

I have the same issue where I work. The guy sitting in the cube across from me, about 4 or 5 feet away, does this ALL DAY LONG. And, it's not a gentle "ahem", it's more like a cross between cough and a loud grunt.....kind of hard to describe.

It's a major distraction for me and I don't know what to do. I have mentioned it a couple of times, he said he has allergies or something....but, I DON'T CARE! He might as well be blasting a fog horn in my ear. I can't concentrate on emails, documents or even concentrate during a telephone meeting. The odd thing about it is this: I find that he can control it during meetings when he is sitting at a table with 8 or 10 other people...he goes for an hour without clearing his throat. This tells me that maybe it's just a bad habit or nervous tic.

I have searched for techniques to learn to ignore noise but haven't found anything useful. I started using noise cancelling headphones and music....but even with the volume up I can still hear him. I guess the next step is to see if I can move to another area in the office...

This happens to me when my throat feels scratchy.  It's annoying to my dad as it is to myself.

Meh. We all have to clear our throats.. She might have a health issue...

More annoying than bad I'd say.

I've been plagued as well as my mother with constant throat clearing and postnasal drip for years. I'm so embarassed by having to constantly clear my throat. Have tried every rx, gone to so many doctors, had every possible test. In my search came across someone mentioning oil of oregano. Anyway I remembered I had some wild oregano oil in my closet (don't remember why I had it). Anyway put 5 drops in water and drank it (ugh horrible stuff). Next day I put it in a tspn of honey. Within 2 days my symptoms have diminished by 40%. In continuing my research find that I shd just take 1 drop in a tspn of honey several times during the day which I feel will help tremendously to get through the horrible, burning taste. I also noticed it has helped with my acid reflux in that my belching has subsided some. Needless to say I'm excited and though it has only been two days I've seen vast improvement. I will be adjusting my doses and establishing a disciplined regimen to see how this works. In all my searching I found the best source was from www.oreganoworld.com which offered a 100% product. Everywhere else I looked they did not offer 100% but mixed it with some other oil and charged more for it. I will be keeping you abreast of my situation as if I can help anyone with this uncomfortable and embarrassing malady I am happy. patrice

Throat clearing drives me nuts too. My spouse does it all the time and it is driving me to drink. if I say something, then I'm the one with the problem. I joined a group on yahoo that may explain your sensitivities. it is called sound sensitivity group or hypercausis. It is nice to read that we are normal. it seems it is a level of our hearing that makes us crazy.

My roommate does this. I don't mind if she's clearing her throat in the morning, but at 3 am?

A friend of mine suffered from the same problem. His problem was traced to presence of Helicobacter pylori. The treatment for Helicobacter pylori also cleared his acid reflux and throat clearing.

you guys are really mean. like its not your fault if someone clears there throat all the time. its either a disorder or allergies. i suffer from it and its not anyone fault. if she could stop, she would. its not like she chooses to do it for the fun of it!

My mother is on pension which is not enough to live so she lives with me. Well she constantly clears here throat 2 or more times a minute some times as much as 6 times a minute and it never stops. She has lived with me 4 years so I have had to deal with this for 4 years and it drives me insane. but she is my mother so I cannot just kick her out since you can't really do that to family. She does it so much if someone clears there throat just once near me in public I just want to beat the crap out of them.

You guys in the office should be glad you do not have to deal with that at home. I actually many times stay at work late just for the fact I know what I have to deal with before I got home.

Irritating if you know the person can help it at some point.  At meetings, I had an opponent who did this at certain times during key moments.  Clever tactic- stop the meeting and ask the offender if he or she has seen a doctor recently. . .

Thank god I'm not alone.
The sound of throat clearing is driving me insaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaane.
Specially if it's done in a quiet room with 7-8 people working and one of them does this twice a minute. and LOUD.  you do the math. I'm trying to understand why do I get annoyed to the point where I can't concentrate any more and expecting the next sound to come. I'm not trying to blame the person doing it but if you do it 2 times every minute and no one else is, then something is wrong with you too..
How can some people be so ignorant, you are not alone, there are people around you. I would greatly appreciate if someone can give some inside of why do we get annoyed by these sounds. I don't understand, it's driving me crazy.

No, it isn't a bad habit!
When I eaten a bit quickly. I will use; or sometimes that happened with
no reason, then I would spitting. Just a necessary for me.

My son has been clearing his throat since he got a cold in January of this year and yes its irritating - BUT -we're looking for an underlying cause now. Apparently, in addition to sinusitis, it can be caused by acid reflux too. Not only are these people you speak of aware of it - it's more irritating to them then you because medical professionals don't know whats causing it - they say here- take this acid reflux medicine or change your diet or any number of things hat don't solve the problem - so PLEASE - be understanding - they are NOT doing this to annoy YOU - and doctors don't have a clue on how to help them. Those people you speak of have to live with this most waking moments - not just the times your in the room with them. Take care

I can't believe that there are others out there going absolutely insane from hearing someone constantly throat clear. I thought I was alone! The repeated acts of snorting, coughing and throat clearing disgusts me to no end.

How can someone be so unaware of themself and the disturbance it causes in an office environment. Ear plugs or headphones aren't an option as this person is also excessively loud. Disgusting!

*coughs "my dad" under breath*

Thank GOD you all feel the same way I do. There are two guys next to me right now, who are in my business school, but who have been doing this every damn day for the last month or so, about once every 10-20 seconds. It's taking all I have not to lean over and punch one of them in the head, especially since he always glares in contempt when someone is opening a plastic wrapper, like a granola bar. Ironic, don't you think, that he is annoyed by wrappers but doesn't know what a FREAKING IRRITANT his throat clearing is? We all seem to all be triggered by certain sounds. I note that I don't think this bothers anyone else in the room. Why it gets to me, I'm not sure, but I know I always seem to key in on it almost immediately. I think it's rude, but like the posrter below said, since the offenders don't seem to realize they're doing it (usually), I have a hard time saying anything about it, because I'm almost sure it'll be interpreted as an insult.
  There was a chick in my office who cough/cleared her throat EVERY GOD DAMN FU*&ING; DAY for 2 YEARS, at least ONCE EVERY MINUTE. I seriously thought about yelling at the top of my lungs, but then one day just slipped her a note and/or a bag of cough drops as a strong hint. She, by the way, leaves the office to smoke at least 5 times a day. It did at least open my eyes to the idea that there are times I get trapped between being terribly annoyed personally but feeling I can't do anything direct about it, which gives me an area to improve. I think most people are leary about confronting someone about this though, since it does take practice to do it without offending them. Still, I don't think we should have to put up with this crap from a smoker who is ruining the ability to concentrate and hence be productive. I think it is absolutely justified to talk to HR if it's bothering you beyond belief. Good luck, fellow workers/students. Try to keep from going insane. And to the guy below from England, SHUT UP. Here in America we act differently with each other at work. We're constrained by acting properly and respectfully, you wanker.

we have someone at our work that all day hocks his throat it makes you want a vomit but how do you tell someone they are discusting withou hurting feelings or be sued??

My God, you folks whine on and on and on and on; I can only presume you're all Americans; you must be. Right?

Clearing your throat is not a bad habit, as long as you are in all actuality, clearing your throat.

Sometimes it just has to be done.

But there is a way to be curteous and less abrasive about it.

i am in cubicle land as well. i just did a tally on the person sitting across from me. 15 times in 10 minutes!!! 7 of those times were in the first 3 minutes. totally annoying.

I have had a problem like this at work for the past five years. The guy in the next cubicle does this every 10 seconds. It is disgusting, distracting, and most importantly unprofessional. He does not know that he is doing it - which is a walking stereotype of the socially inept engineer that he is. Others in the office are aware of it as well, so I finally decided to write to HR, and also talked to his boss about it, and they are in agreement with me and will tactfully deal with it the best that they can. Hopefully, this will help the problem. The key from your standpoint is to be as professional about it as possible. Praise the person and emphasize that it is only about the habit, which in my situation is truthful. If you make it personal, they will think that you are a chronic whiner and ignore you, which frankly they should. Hope that helps.

That drives me crazy. Not only it sounds herendous, it looks rediculous.

I do this some. I try to be aware of it but during heavy allergy season regardless of how many drugs I take I still seem to have a little drainage. Gross or not, it is just a fact for some. I do try to refrain though.

Well there is this guy in my office who does it all the time . . . there he goes again as im typing!! its driving me nuts. hows it go? . . . aaaggggghhhhuuuummm aaaggggghhhhuuuummm!! . . . aaaggggghhhhuuuummm

Oh my gosh!! It seems like evey time I take an exam there is always someone doing this. So annoying...Drink something, suck on a coughdrop, do something!!

this is very annoying and sounds gross. i know a young man who does this constantly no matter how many times hes been told that its rude and wished he wouldnt do it.i see alot of young people today that act like they were not taught manners growing up.

Perhaps a cough drop might soothe that little tickle in the throat. I'm not a doctor or a nurse, but couldn't hurt to try it...

Nah but it would be nice if someone got the person a cup of tea :)

I can't help it if I have a frog in my throat. OK!

I'm guilty of this one too. This is a side effect of the medicene I take. I find the a cup of chamomile tea will usually fix this problem.

Unless they have an actual frog lodged in their trachea, then they should relieve people of having to listen to that painful guttural-- especially when we're taking a Trig test!!!

OH MY GOD!! this is SO annoying In class there's this guy I have to sit by and he does it ALL the time and it drives me absolutely insane!

I put it right up there with people hawking-up spit and/or snot; both of which tick me off big time!

I can't say I've really been affected by it. If someone did clear their throat a lot, I'd give them a cough drop.

it could be taxing if I am around them all day and they do this the whole time. I know they probably cannot help it. I might find an excuse to get away from them for awhile if i could.

Sure Sure, make fun of people who have medical conditions.