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"The HUM", a persistent Low Frequency Noise
As I sit, writing, my left ear is filled with the Classic Hum. Both my ears used to hear it, but after an ear infection in the right ear, leaving no measurable loss of hearing as determined by yearly workplace hearing tests, I no longer hear it in the right.
Certainly, others must hear it.
My wife, largely complete loss of hearing in one ear, high frequency Tinnitus in the other, and myself, excellent hearing as tested by yearly workplace physicals, started hearing the HUM on the same day, in the same location, over a decade ago. We hear it exactly the same in a number of places separated by hundreds of miles. We have experimented by asking if the other could hear the HUM, whether in certain parts of the structure we were in (home we rented in the Country, home we owned in the City) if it was louder, quieter, or audible at all, and had an extremely high degree of concurrence.
It appears to be a real world event, not Tinnitus, but IMHO, the American Medical Community is trying to pawn it off as Tinnitus. I've seen a few references to the National Institutes of Health claiming, on flimsy questionnaires sent out, that the HUM is, indeed, Tinnitus.
My wife heard it, simultaneous to me hearing it, for a decade, I still hear it, but if you mention this to doctors, they look at you like you have snakes coming out of your head. My ENT has been sick, so my appointment with him has been delayed, he's back to work but catching up. I see the ENT due to a cancerous thyroid he removed. But recently, my right ear has been acting up. It makes a spontaneous rumbling noise that I can voluntarily reproduce. But telling this to my family doctor, that I can voluntarily make this rumbling (not the HUM) and also mentioning the HUM, since I hear it in my left ear but the right ear is acting up, on both counts, I don't think he believes me, or understands. Yet, yesterday, I found an article that says that some people have voluntary control over a muscle attached to the Tympanic Membrane. That's my voluntarily induced rumbling (not HUM).
So, there are some forms of Tinnitus, "Pulsatile Tinnitus (PT) is a symptom that affects nearly five million Americans. The sensation of hearing a rhythmic noise, such as a heartbeat, swooshing or whooshing, from no external source, is, at best, a little unsettling; for many, the near constant sound exceeds annoyance and becomes completely debilitating" that can cause noises in your hearing, but decidedly is not the HUM. I'd be interested in reading what others have to say on these experiences, if you don't feel like outing yourself, you could always say a friend of yours.......
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tinnitus or infrasound. its possible that some people can hear sound below the normal range (infrasound). need special infrasound mike to ascertain. next question is if it is real ,what is source.
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1 ReactionI've recorded the sound and amplified it to a normal range of hearing and it was -30dbs. I'm not an expert, so it could have been lower or higher in db level. Either way it's low and loud, the worst days are when my chest starts hurting.
I understand, but the noise is heard not by only me. My neighbor that does not have tinnitus hears it too. It stumps the ENT and Audiologists can't test for it either. It is pretty odd.
It sounds like it might be something in your environment, but for sure you've considered that. Let us know if you figure it out.
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1 Reactionmight try local county environmental dept. usually there are laws that limit decibels that neighborhood can allow. I tried that route in orange county fl. got zip.
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1 Reaction30 db is pretty low in volume. a lot of communities have threshold of 60/70 db. before there is concern.
when you say 30 do you mean db or frequency. 30 frequency is infrasound. 30 db low volume.
You're right that is low volume. I meant hz frequency.
Sorry for your odd problem. I have tinnitus and hearing loss but in the evening I also “hear » music that is playing in my head, every note, chorus of voices, different songs. It’s just as though someone is playing this music for real. It’s not like humming a sound or piece of music. It comes unbidden and stops whenever. It’s actually a condition called musical ear. Not like a person who has an inclination for music. Actually I have no musical talent or even interest at all. I also hear voices but can’t make out what they are babbling.
I have been experiencing the hum that likely millions of others are as well. In 2009 I took it on myself to research and try to get support from various agencies in the US Federal Govt. In particular FERC and those regulating the natural gas pipeline industry as my research concluded to be the source of my LF sound and vibrations in CT. To that I suggest interested parties watch a 29 minute short documentary posted by the Atlantic in “the hum” called The Hum, the unexplained noise 2% of people can hear”. Unfortunately as new member cant post link
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1 ReactionHi @ctsteve, I noticed that you wished to post a URL to a resource with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.
- The Unexplained Noise 2 Percent of People Can Hear https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/593992/doom-vibrations/
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