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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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Are ringing, buzzing, whooshing, etc etc the most popular (like 99%?) symptoms of tinnitus. Does anyone have just ‘musical’ tinnitus? I listen to short fragments of a couple songs that go round and round and often joined by deep rumbling or thunder or drums. No one I know hears such stuff so I can’t help but wonder if it’s simply a sign of worsening hearing? Or a corrupted cochlea? As to hyperacusis: I just read that Tonic Tensor Timpani Syndrome is possibly one of the causes of sound sensitivity. Also mentioned Acoustic Shock. Does anyone know anything about these rare items? All very interesting …
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2 ReactionsI often get pieces of a song stuck in my head, usually something I heard in the past day or two, but I don't think it's related to my tinnitus. Sometimes I'm laying in bed and the same section of the particular song just keeps repeating over and over -- it can make me a little nuts at times.
Just in the past few months I have started to experience what you describe. I have moderate hearing loss and wear hearing aids. I also have had tinnitus for years, particularly in my left ear. It used to be limited to a high-pitched screeching sound, sometimes softer and sometimes louder. In the past few months I have started to have repetitive musical patterns superimposed over the normal screech. Sometimes it is a snippet of a song I have recently heard, but sometimes just a repeating pattern of pitches and rhythms. It does not seem as immediately “present” as the screech, more a background sound or awareness. It can be very annoying if I pay attention to it. I would be very interested to know if others have experienced this as well.
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1 ReactionWhile tinnitus is a mystery, there is a lot of concern about it. This short youtube video may help you explain what your tinnitus is like to others who are patient enough to listen.
Most Common Tinnitus Sounds: What Does Tinnitus Sound Like in Your Ear?
286 views Aug 3, 2022 In this short video, HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop plays sound files of the most common types of tinnitus and helps point you in the right direction to overcome those annoying sounds. He also makes note of the various forms of tinnitus that should tip you off to see a medical professional for further investigation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWQuXKPdYeI __________________________________________________________________________________________ Matthew Allsop is the Video Content Manager at Hearingtracker.com. He practices from his London-based practice, Harley Street Hearing.
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2 ReactionsI am SO glad I have just come across this thread! I’ve been experiencing this “Hum” noise for the last month or so. It’s a very low frequency that comes and goes often. It’s very unsettling. Initially I thought it was some sort of EMF frequency that I was picking up, but I have no idea. No one else around me can hear it, so I’ve been feeling like I’m going crazy. I play pink noise during the night, so at least it doesn’t keep me awake. It’s good to know there are others out there! I’m in New Zealand, just in case anyone wants to know location.
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1 Reaction...not a professional opinion of course but we used to call thinking of a song on and off as "ear worm" my adult daughter is a music fan and waked up every morning thinking of a different favourite song; whereas mine I believe self diagnosed as 'musical ear.' I actually am not thinking of a song or music, I feel I can actually hear it either along with my tinnitus noise of mostly rumbling and hyperacusis picking up a variety of sounds; and yes its annoying and very upsetting. My tinnitus started many many years ago but was the odd squeak, tap, whine every so often, sometimes in evening when in bed reading a book and really didnt get worse until had flu 2 years in a row and then it started but a grinding, whirring sound .... so real ... and we had a new hot air furnace in basement and i felt it was that; we had ceiling down there sound proofed but they didnt do wher the darn pipes came through the walls/ceiling and the furnace is under MY BEDROOM... makes various noises. Also, we are about 3 blocks from Canada Pipe Line and 2 blocks from our City's pumping station which runs 24/7 bringing water from lake , sanitizing, and pumping out.A year or so ago I diagnozed myself with hyperacusis. My hearing has been going a little bit each year and is called moderate hearing loss.... some things I can hear, group chats not much. Sooooo.... yes then started thinking I could hear neighbour's radio on, but they were away and it wasnt on . Then could hear man's voice like he was commenting on a horserace or such... long story short as could give many examples, can hear music, singing, even a man speaking 100 words a minute garbled....i think it has made me nuts along with my other medical problems. Like others, dont need hearing aid with hyperacusis; need a hearing aid when cant hear others speaking; woken up 4 or more times a night to noise... is it my tinnitus rocking and rolling, esp. right ear, or can I hear a neighbour's swimming pool motor, a hot tub motor, and it goes on and on and on. Also I have pressure in ears, pain in ears, echo sometimes when i talk and almost chronic sinus from glaucoma drops side effect....ok could be worse as everyone says, but it is upsetting and as far as i know, no cure. Sorry am all over the place with this comment but i think making my point... its HORRIBLE.
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1 ReactionYes! I have just what you have: repetitive music fragments sometimes accompanied by rumbling, thunder and drums! Add hyperacusis to those and we’ve got … what? Doesn’t seem much like tinnitus, does it? Whatever it is I’ve searched everywhere including ENTs who so far can’t answer the question. Very interesting indeed.
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1 Reaction....so it must be our brains? all of a sudden I just remember reading somewhere about auditory hallucinations... am going to check into that this morning and if pertinent will try and comment here.
I still wonder if my ear issues are hereditary, was not able to ask Dad has he had passed away when mine started, but from a child knew he was deaf in one ear. why was never discussed with children in those days. I also took Zoloft and another med for 15 yrs and I am wondering if it caused my narrow angle glaucoma AND hearing or perceived hearing issues.... wonder how many years people have had 'musical ear'.. is it something for this century? Not sure which is worse; the narrow angke glaucoma, hearing issues or ibs/fecal incontinence...!! Oh and recently 2 trips to emerge with some type of inside my head trauma or squeezing pressure etc., and now wonder about Meniere's .. it never stops does it!!?? Constant worry and stress and as we age, will be 79 tomorrow, seem another one added to the list...feel i am living too long - quality vs quantity my motto.....sniff.
oh scratch what I said about auditory hallucinations, nothing to do with tinnitus et al. ...I do not hear voices telling me to, say, kick my neighbour's cat or hide my husband's cigarettes... not voices telling me to do things etc. as I have seen on movies etc., gosh scared myself there! no... I hear repetitive voice singing same line over and over; or same strains of music, or a voice speaking very very fast and it is almost always connected to also hearing the tinnitus thumping, or like a washing machine spinning... certain tinnitus tones bring with them certain types of music; still it is horrible but not a mental health issue - sorry for misinformation, but someone mentioned it so had to check out. HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING by the way! 🇺🇸 🇨🇦
The repeating pattern of pitches and rhythms makes me wonder if we’re experiencing pulsatile tinnitus. I’m often noticing my heartbeat which seems to connect with rapid drums playing under a short musical fragment (can sound like mush sometimes). It can be very annoying if it’s loud, especially when I wake up in the morning. Not a great way to start the day!