by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A lady wrote,
About a year ago I started hearing low-frequency noise. I have had tinnitus for years. This is different. I only hear it in my home, my husband doesn’t hear it at all. I hear it in every room in the house. It seems to come through the walls. The sounds I hear are akin to a laboring engine outside my room. I also feel vibration along with the noise.
Last night I went to empty the washing machine, as I thought it was spinning. Sometimes I think it’s an extractor fan. Sometimes it’s an echo—kind of an underwater sound. Last year the water company tunneled along a few roads from us, and I am sure I heard that. Environmental men have checked with a sound monitor, nothing showed up.
You are not alone in hearing strange, phantom, low-frequency rumbling sounds. This is a form of Musical Ear Syndrome (MES). A number of people hear what sounds like trucks idling outside their bedroom windows or bulldozers working there. The interesting thing is that, like you, they also often feel the vibrations from these phantom trucks and machinery. When two of your five senses tell you something is occurring, it is hard to believe that it is all in your head. I too, know what that is like as I have similar experiences from time to time.
When you were in the vicinity, you may have heard the low-frequency sounds of the water company tunneling under the road. If you did, your brain would have stored it in your memory banks. Now and then, your MES kicks in and replays it for you so you hear it—or a similar kind of sound again—(and again, and again). The very fact that the sound monitor didn’t pick up any sounds is further proof that what you are hearing is phantom.
You just have to learn how to tell what is real and what is phantom, then ignore the phantom sounds. I just look out the window. If there are no trucks or machinery around, then I know the sounds are all phantom and I can safely ignore them.
If you want to learn more about Musical Ear Syndrome and what you can do about it, see my book Phantom Voices, Ethereal Music & Other Spooky Sounds.
I understand, but it’s gotten to the point it’s hurting my ears as the vibrations wont stop.
Hi Vi:
What are you hearing, and what are you feeling? Exactly what is hurting your ears–the sound of the rumbling, or the associated feeling of vibration?
If you have a fluttering feeling in your ears, then this is another condition. I can’t tell from your terse statement what you are really experiencing.
Cordially,
Neil
It’s the VOLUME!!!!!!!
I just want peace.
I have vertigo and hearing loss at 62. My eardrum in my early 20 was busted on one and shattered on another from a nice open hand slap causing bleeding. I’ve never experienced.any hearing issues until the last 3 years when I was diagnosed with vertigo. Every night I’m awaken around 3 am hearing low frequency noises and rumbling that sound like thunder or airplanes or even heavy machinery running frim afar. I even feel vibration in my bed that my husband doesn’t hear. I have arthritis on my neck and back and joints. Inflammation in my body make both these noises and my vertigo worse. Everybody thinks I’m imagining all of it. What is going on as this disturbs my sleep where night.
Hi Melissa:
What happened 3 years ago that brought on your vertigo? Do you know? Also, when did this low-rumbling sound begin–at the same time as the vertigo? Or separate from it? Are you taking any drugs or medications? And were you when the vertigo began?
When you wake up with this low rumbling sound at 3:00 AM or so, is this also associated with your vertigo?
As you know from reading this article, low rumbling sounds and feeling the bed/chair/house vibrating at the same time is fairly common. By this I mean both occurring together is fairly common. I experience it myself from time to time. As far as I’m concerned, it is nothing to worry about. You already know it is not real, but phantom, since your husband doesn’t hear or feel anything.
I’m more concerned about your vertigo and its origin. So tell me more and I’ll see if anything pops out at me regarding it.
I believe you about the rumbling sound/feeling. It’s a real sensation to you–albeit totally phantom. It’s not your imagination. I just don’t know the cause at this point.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Doctor,
I think I nay have this. For the past few days I’ve been hearing something that sounds like a generator or leaf blower outside my room. I can also feel vibrations. Knowing how it works is very nice, but I want it to stop. Will it go away on it’s own? I’ve been hearing the same droning sound for the past few days. It follows me everywhere. I developed this right after I got tinnitus. I’m only 18. Help?
Hi Nyerho:
Yup–you have it. It’s sort of a combination of MES and tinnitus. Since yours closely followed your getting tinnitus, it is obviously related. What did you do that caused your tinnitus? That can help in figuring out the best treatment.
I know in my case, sometimes I hear and feel the phantom motor sounds/vibrations. I don’t know what triggers them exactly, but they don’t stay around for more than a hour or so.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil,
Thank you for your response. I have a buildup of wax in my right ear so I suspect that could be what caused my tinnitus to begin with. I’m about to get it cleared out in a few hours so I’m hoping it will go away. The thing is, my tinnitus has reduced significantly, but I can still hear the irritating drone. Sometimes it’s so silent that I don’t even know if I’m just thinking it up. It sounds like it’s in my head.
I have had tinnitus for years with a slight hiss which I have learned to ignore. Now this low rumbling wind like sound like you comes for an hour and goes away. Some days it’s once or nothing other days its 2or 3 times
Can anything be do e
Hi Claudia:
I’ve never found anything that makes mine go away–it just comes and goes as it pleases. But if you ignore it by focusing on something else, it may go away faster. I only notice mine when I am sitting down, so if I get up and move around and focus on something else, it soon disappears. Who knows what you’ll find helps yours?
Cordially,
Neil
I have another question if you don’t mind. I spent 8 days in my sisters house at Christmas time in California not once was there a rumble. How can that be if it’s in my head? Thank youb
Hi Claudia:
If your rumbling sounds are truly phantom (you have Musical Ear Syndrome), then having new experiences such as visiting your sister where you are occupied with focusing on the new experiences can let your MES fade into the background for a time. However, if you moved there and after a few months of getting used to the new experiences, you probably would find your rumbling sounds return.
The other possibility is if you have audio pareidolia where a soft background sound is interpreted by your brain as a rumbling sound, when you move away from that sound, you no longer hear it.
In your case, it is probably the former situation.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi there I’m back again I just came from my doctors office where I sat for over an hour and I had no sound whatsoever I walk into my apartment and there’s a rumble rumble rumble rumble why in heavens name is that why do I only hear it in my apartment?
Hi Claudia:
If you put pillows over your ears and you hear the rumbling sound just as loud, then you know it is a phantom sound and is all in your head so it could be tinnitus or Musical Ear syndrome sounds.
If the rumbling sound stops when you put pillows over your ears, then you know it is a real sound, or is based on a real sound that you may perceive as something else. This is called audio pareidolia.
So that is the first thing to check out and let me know which you have.
Cordially,
Neil
I have musical ear syndrome 🤦♀️
Hi Claudia:
I wouldn’t worry about it. I have it from time to time–a low rumbling sound and accompanied by vibrations–both are phantom. This only occurs in my house or in my car–nowhere else. That’s just the way it is. Nothing to get upset over. Just your ears playing tricks on you (again). I’ve experienced this for about 25 years now in such diverse places as Alberta, Washington and Pennsylvania.
Cordially,
Neil
Hey doctor in my left ear I hear this buzzing like humming noise like a frequency from a TV all the time my right ear as well and in my right ear I’m constantly hearing my heartbeat all the time and early in the morning I hear vibrations like there’s a tractor trailer outside my window idling low frequency help
Hi Jesse:
When you have tinnitus in time to your heartbeat (pulsatile tinnitus), if it bothers you, maybe you should see a vascular surgeon. Typically it is due to turbulent blood flow because an artery is partially clogged or a number of other causes such as an artery that has grown too close to your inner ear so it hears your heartbeat.
The low rumbling sound and sensation (vibration) are often due to some degree of hearing loss.
What was the cause of this if you know? What happened with your ears in the couple of weeks before this began? Did you expose your ears to loud sounds of some sort, or take certain drugs/medications?
I get these rumbling sounds and vibrations from time to time, but they go away on their own typically in less than an hour. It is nothing to worry about.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Nick,
About 7 months ago I developed BPPV. I treated it with the Epley but remained constantly dizzy afterwards. The anxiety dizziness has caused me is through the roof. I have had full balance testing, hearing test, blood test, MRI, CT scan, Xray – all normal. 2 months ago I developed tinnitus but then after a flight back from Cancun, the sound and vibration of my flight are still in my ears. This has been going on for 2-3 weeks now. It feels like wind flapping and a vibration in my head. Could this also be what you describe? I was worried about Menieres but the audiologist and two ENTs assure me that there is nothing wrong with my ears. I also sometimes worry about a fistula from childbirth, but i doubt that all my systems would present at different times and start with BPPV. Additionally, after months of being dizzy from the BPPV (not sure why I am still dizzy because I don’t have nystagmus anymore), I have developed hyperacusis. I do clench my teeth at night which was discovered by TENS therapy. Could this tinnitus be what you are describing?
My left ear “pick up” some rhytmical sounds like the ones from a faulty power supply, hard drives, hissing on bad speakers, and plays them back at me for hours or days as long as I’m regularly exposed to those sounds. This is not normal tinnitus as the rythm itself is exactly the same, like if I was really hearing the sound. Is this a form of MES?
Hi Paul:
I’m not sure. It seems what you are experiencing is auditory memories getting stuck in your mind and then playing over and over in your mind. That is what I’d think it is, but you say you are “hearing” it from your left ear so that makes it a bit different and makes it sound more like Musical Ear Syndrome. Maybe it is actually a combination of the two.
Cordially,
Neil
Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that this could be vestibular migraine?
Hi doc
I took a nap this afternoon and when i woke up i started to hear this noise like wind in my ear whenever someone spoke. Please help me. Its my left ear only
hi doc
my doctor told me i have Tmj week ago.
but yesterday i wake up with rumbling noise in my right ear.
is it due to my Tmj or Tinnitus.
im confuse little bit.
Hi Mohammed:
TMJ can cause tinnitus, but from the little you have told me, I can’t tell whether your tinnitus is related to your TMJ or not. If you clench your teeth and your tinnitus gets louder, that may indicate it is due to your TMJ. If you turn your head hard left or right and your tinnitus gets louder, that indicates your neck is not aligned properly–and your TMJ could be a result of that–muscles, ligments and tendons not working/aligned properly.
Cordially,
Neil
I’m hearing it too. A low rumble. It intensifies sometimes and then almost goes away sometimes. We moved into a new home 3days ago. That’s when it started. I still have access to our last home and nothing there. Wondering if there might be a wind tunnel occurring in the siding, sofet or facia of this house.
I am on here searching for an answer as my dear next door neighbor has been doing for months. We have called the Elec co. the water dept, engineers, and other local resources. We cannot find the source of the god awful constant rumbling, sounds like ocean waves, diesel engine on a mac truck or motor coach, sounds like high hurricane winds on the way, makes me wonder if this is how the howling winds and massive fires sounded like to my neighbors in town who lost their homes due to those Gatlinburg, Smoky MT Fires Nov 2016/ This morning at 11:38 I was quietly preparing for a meditation session, all peaceful and quiet as a mouse (AT LAST)_ then suddenly I heard it click on like a huge furnace or something that was jumped started with a louder noise in the beginning then mellowed out with the usual rumble, high, low and constant noise. It is still going on, non stop all day and it is now 1:20 AM. I have heard it all nite long when I do not sleep. It is beginning to drive us totally out of our minds and even her pets are becoming antsy at times, especially when all should be quiet at nite. MY TV is on now at Volume 19 and I STILL hear it. I KNOW the other weird sounds that happen in our ears, I have experienced many over years. But the two of us, in two separate homes cannot have the same exact sounds at the exact same times.
Hi Vivian:
If the electric company, water department and other local resources cannot hear even a smidgin of what you are hearing of these rumbling sounds, then you have to conclude that it is all in your head–it is phantom and not real sound–or else others would hear it also.
I’m curious, do you also FEEL the rumbling sounds vibrating your house, or just hear it? Many people who hear these phantom rumbling sounds also feel their houses etc. shaking too. And this is a phantom shaking–because others can’t feel it either.
This is all part of the MES complex. You are not alone. Many people have had somewhat similar experiences.
You say, “But the two of us, in two separate homes cannot have the same exact sounds at the exact same times.” Are you saying that she NEVER hears the rumbling sounds without you also hearing them? And you NEVER hear these rumbling sounds without her hearing them? I think if you carefully compare notes, you’ll find that you have similar but not exactly the same experiences and they are not always happening at exactly the same times.
Since many people experience phantom rumbling sounds, it is not outside the real of possibility that two neighbors are experiencing similar things. I assume you are both roughly the same age and are seniors? This is a common age to experience such phantom sounds.
Cordially,
Neil
I too hear a noise like a truck or compressor. I’m in my 3rd year of hearing it.
No-one else can hear it.
I bought a sound meter and on normal frequency it doens’t show anything.
On low frquency it clearly shows a repetative mechanical noise and I can actually give someone the sound meter and move my arm in time to the vibration they can’t hear. Which surprises them.
On low frequency the noise is registering into the high 50db’s.
I recorded the sound onto my computer and now have irrefutable proof.
Strange how I’m the only one who can hear it though.
Now trying to get the council to sound out engineers to locate the noise.
Hi Michael:
If no one can hear it, that is a good indication that it is all in your head and is a phantom sound.
Tell me more about your meter. What is the range of the normal frequency and the range of low frequency. The sound meters I am familiar with only have A and C scales, not frequency scales.
Where do you hear this low rumbling sound–at home, outside, every place you go, or what? Does the meter pick up the sound every place you hear it?
What is the frequency of this rumbling sound?
I’d like to know more about what you find out.
Cordially,
Neil
I think I have found a way to understand this.
Yes, the sound is in the head, but it may be the brain’s way of interpreting a vibration.
In these 3 videos there is no sound, but in my head there is.
Standard vibration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmZgqTTiC8c
High vibration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ-zPjklKfU
Outside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03f_swmTaNk
Note, I have an enlarged heart, and this vibration is not only bad for it, but my breathing goes when outside.
Of note there are 2 dry walls on the inside of the room, and I wonder if these are creating a resonance.
Am trying to get the council to investigate as due to my bad heart I am unable to do so myself.
Overall, there is no sound, it’s a vibration my brain is translating into a sound.
Hi Michael:
I think we are talking about two different things. Vibrations produce sound waves–whether we can hear them or not. Your sound meter shows that there is a real sound of 55 dB or whatever it was showing at the time. If your ears are not sensitive to the frequency of these sound waves, you do not hear them, thus your brain will NOT perceive them as sound. However, vibrations hitting your body could affect your health in other ways even if you can’t hear them–especially very-low-frequency vibrations below 10 Hz, which human ears cannot detect. I understand 7 Hz sounds can really negatively affect the human body.
The low-frequency rumbling sounds I was referring to are not real sounds–the sound meter won’t show any sound, yet you “hear” them in your head. These are phantom sounds, pure and simple–what I consider part of the Musical Ear Sydrome or even a type of tinnitus.
Incidentally, these is nothing to stop you from experiencing both of these phenomena at the same time, making it difficult to figure out exactly what is going on.
Cordially,
Neil
I finally found this site to explain what I have been experiencing. A few weeks ago, I suddenly started hearing these strange sounds like air in the house pipes or furnace or water heater or the lights, etc., etc., or anything else I thought it could be. Yep, no one else could hear them. When I go to bed, it becomes louder and then I was feeling the whole physical body and bed vibrations. I am thankful that I now have some answers and know what to expect. Hopefully, this is only temporary, but I am prepared for it if it is something permanent.
Hi Lou:
I only experience this rumbling sound and sensation very sporadically, so hopefully yours won’t be there all the time–but we are all different.
Cordially,
Neil
I have been experiencing this horrible rumbling sound since getting a virus in my other ear. It sometimes makes my ear drum actually vibrate and makes my ear hurt. The rumbling is always there and I just want it to go away.
Hi Valee:
When you say this rumbling sound makes your ear vibrate, could you describe it as a fluttering sensation?
And the ear pain–is it a sharp pain, or dull pain or burning pain sensation?
How long ago did this start?
What ototoxic side effects did you experience in the ear the virus attacked?
I need to know more information before I can help you.
Cordially,
Neil
Hey Neil, in the middle of the day a few days ago my right ear randomly had a sort of underwater or tunnel noise. It’s gotten suppressed a few times but never gone away. I do have bad hearing in my right ear from a bone being tight and have heard ringing noises only I can hear before but only for short periods of time
Hi Connor:
I’m not sure what you are describing. It sounds like you have a conductive loss from a condition called otosclerosis. Does that sound like what your doctor said you have?
Cordially,
Neil
Happy to have found this site – you’re doing good work here helping people!
Since last morning I hear a low rumbling sound in my right ear. It is not unlike the sound I hear when I yawn – roughly around 5-10Hz? – and it comes in pulses with an average duration of 200 ms, every 1 to seconds.
It’s not very loud but definitely distracting. I have no pain or any other symptoms.
My uneducated guess is that this is a muscle spasm of some sort.
Any clues?
Hi Robert:
You don’t feel anything–just hear the sound? I’m curious as human hearing only goes down to around 20 Hz, so we don’t hear lower frequency sounds–but we can feel them.
If you feel a bit of a fluttering or feeling of movement, then it could well be a muscle spasm. There are a few muscles that can go into spasm including muscles of the palate and two in the middle ear, then tensor tympani and stapedius muscles.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello, I’ve had exactly this low hum sometimes accompanied by rumbling in my head and for the first year I developed extreme high anxiety until I realised it wasn’t going to kill me. Almost there years later I still get it but it doesn’t bother me too much I’ve always been able to sleep through it. Any noise will Mark it though, tv ,a fan or even talking but then it’s back instantly when those things stop. I’ve noticed no one talking about what makes theirs stop if any. Mine goes away when I shake my head side to side but only until I stop and even weirder, it used to be only sort of coming from my left ear and if I stuck my finger in for a few seconds it would disappear for about a minute then slowly return. If I stuck my finger in my right ear though, as soon as I took it out my left ear would hum madly loud and then slowly settle to a low hum. The last few months though I’ve noticed the opposite is happening so its now in my right ear also.
Any clues there? If I cover my ears with anything I can’t hear it but is there as soon as I remove the item. Mine comes and goes too. It can stay for days or weeks then go for weeks. I’ve also noticed driving in the car for short periods can trigger it as well as my convection heater which gives off a low hum. Log drivers however makes it go away! Trying to find the pattern is a killer! Any info on those things would be appreciated
Hi Claudia:
You do have an interesting situation, don’t you?
Touching your face, ears, fingers in your ears, etc. can cause interesting things to happen. This is not unique to you. Signals, other than sound signals, get sent to brain areas where sound signals also go for certain types of processing. There, the neurons can start double-tasking and mess things up and you get these strange things happening.
Do I understand it correctly that you only get this “humming” sound when there are other real sounds around? You do not get it in silence? So when the sound stops, then your humming goes away too?
Tell me more about your situation if you will.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil, no it is there when its quiet, that’s when I can tell it’s there. Around noise it gets masked. Certain sounds can bring it on as can bending over for extended periods of time but again, none of these are 100% as sometimes, it doesn’t come on at all. It very much has a mind of its own. Every time I’ve had it tho and taken long drives, I mean three hours plus, it goes away. So to recap, it can come on on its own and go on its own or it can come on by turning my heater on, or driving short distances or I’ve noticed sometimes after speaking on the phone or watching something on my laptop. It can stay just for a few moments after turning these things on or for days and weeks. There’s no clear cut pattern except that, I get it……… I was going through quite some stress when it started but at the time I wasn’t aware of how much stress was in my life. And just like you pointed out to someone else, when I go places it can disappear completely, I attribute the long distance driving to that but then as you said, it will come on again. Putting my head as far back as I can can make it worse and when it’s very light trying to touch my chest with my chin can make it go away but only whilst doing that……..
Hi Claudia:
You have a strange one. It sounds like some sort of tinnitus–maybe a combination of the common neurophysiologic tinnitus, somatic tinnitus and maybe reactive tinnitus all rolled into one–and, as you say, with a mind of its own.
Cordially,
Neil
Yes I’ve baffled all doctors with it but most just look at of and either laugh or think I’m crazy. I had a bad cold 12 years ago which after a week I developed a strong spinning that left me bed ridden for two weeks and every two or three years I get a bout that only lasts for 20min or so but I also had severe hearing loss at the time which took 10 months to return but has left me with a permanent high tinnitus ringing which I’ve got used to and doesn’t bother me. But the low hum does and it all seems to be on the left side. Anything you think I could do? I’ve tried many things but nothing. I do eat a lot of chocolate, like a lot! And lots of tea at night as well but that’s as far as bad vices go……
Hi Claudia:
That sounds like a viral attack that affected both your hearing and balance systems. Cold viruses can do this.
You’ll be glad (not) to know that for some people chocolate causes their tinnitus. So you might want to cut out all chocolate for a couple of weeks and see whether you notice any difference. If not, go back to your chocolate. If there is, then you might want to start adding back a bit of chocolate and find the amount your body tolerates before your tinnitus kicks in.
Since nothing else has worked, this may be the solution. It’ll just take a lot of willpower for a couple of weeks to find out.
Cordially,
Neil
Holy cow you are describing EXACTLY what I’m experiencing for over a year now. I’d love to discuss this further with you. In every way my symptoms are the same, even shaking my head makes the sound go away for a moment, only to return. I don’t believe it’s musical ear syndrome as described here.
Hi, a few weeks ago I heard the rumbling noise for the first time in class, it feels as if I was covering and uncovering my ears repeatedly and fast, it has gotten to the point it hurts a lot and my ears have become really sensitive to any kind of contact and even noise, as if instead of going deaf it’s the opposite, my hearing is a lot more sensitive.
Hi Alison:
What you are experiencing now is called loudness hyperacusis. Some/all sounds (particularly higher-frequency sounds) now sound sharper than normal and may sound MUCH louder than normal.
It can sound so loud that it hurts. Or you can have ear pain that hurts whether there are sounds around or not.
You haven’t given me near enough information about how it all started and a time line of how long it has taken to progress to where it is now.
You may have Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS), but as I said, I need more information to figure it out.
Cordially,
Neil
This website is awesome and thank you for taking our questions. I am 59 years old and have had mild to moderate tinnitus for 15 years years that started as an ototoxic effect from Bactrim. In the last month, usually right before I wake up, I sometimes hear a deep one or two second rumbling, usually when I’m laying on my back. I never hear it during the day.. or if I lay on my side or stomach. We are having a wicked congestion type cold here in California and I’ve been struggling with sinus congestion and pressure for a few weeks now when this started… and now my ears feel pressure and sometimes pain. My normal tinnitus is very high pitched… this is a very low rumble. My neck is tight and my tmj on my left side is bit active at the moment too. Any thoughts? It sometimes wakes me up… it’s just unusual deep, but brief rumbling.
Hi Jill:
I wouldn’t worry about it at this time. Wait until your cold and congestion clears up and your ears return to normal. Hopefully, this rumble will have faded away too. But if not, then let me know what your present symptoms are and we’ll go from there.
You may be hearing hypnopompic sounds. They are “natural” phantom sounds you may hear just as you are waking up. If this is what you are experiencing, this is nothing to worry about. It’s a normal human experience that happens from time to time.
These sounds may also be a form of tinnitus caused by your neck, back and shoulders being tight and your vertebrae may be a bit out of proper alignment.
So, until you nail down exactly what condition you have, it’s hard to say what to do about them.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Doctor
I have had an idling sound in my left year for three months. I also have a headache when I laugh, cough or bend. I have had CT scan for sinus, been on antibiotics, steroids, hearing tests, eye exams, all normal. Next step is MRI of my brain. Doctors are stumped. If I had to chose I’d like this constant idling to stop. Playing the radio will mask it but it has not stopped. I read maybe chocolate? Any other ideas on how to stop it?
Hi Barbara:
What happened three months ago to cause this idling sound type of tinnitus? Did the headaches start about the same time? If you can determine the cause, often it provides a better clue how to treat it or get rid of it.
Cordially,
Neil
The headaches started about four weeks before the idling sound. I was given antibiotics and steroids for headache then the sound started and has not stopped. Headaches still happening as well. They thought sinus but that’s not it.
Hi Barbara:
One possibility is that the drugs you took caused this tinnitus, probably the antibiotics. If you tell me which antibiotics you took, I can tell you whether I think it was likely or not.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil,
Firstly, thank you so much for all these answers, finding this resource is amazing when struggling through a difficult time.
I slowly started to develop a ringing in my ear (about 3 months ago) over the course of about a month. First like 2 minutes at the end of the work day, then 20 minutes, then an hour, then 2 hours, then constant and my fear and worry sent me into a breakdown. At it’s worst, the tinnitus was so loud it felt like it was vibrating and I just couldn’t take it.
I saw an ear specialist who said there was nothing physically wrong with my hearing, so he sent me to a doctor who could look after the mental side. He got me on medicine to calm me down and balance my brain again, and it’s taken about 2 months but the tinnitus is slowly getting a bit better.
When I wake up I usually don’t have any ringing. Then I’ll hear some high frequency clicks or pings in my ear, almost like something in there is spasming, and then it’ll go into full tinnitus usually for the rest of the day. Seems to be related to stress, as the weekends it is more quiet, or occasionally not there.
The strange thing – when I cover both of my ears, I can hear/feel a deep and constant rumbling. almost like a muted machine gun, or an unbalanced washing machine spinning too fast. I do not hear/feel this unless I cover my ears, but I do feel it in both ears.
It may be my imagination, but I do think turning my head to the side increases the sound of the tinnitus. (I tried it after reading an above comment) And I’m not sure if it’s relevant, but for many years if I went jogging (I don’t do it much), I would often hear/feel a high pitched click or ping in my neck. Never hurt or anything like that, but wondering if it’s relevant now.
I live in a country that doesn’t speak my native language, so it’s hard to get support here.
Any ideas?
Hi Christopher:
Phantom low rumbling sounds often do seem to be accompanied with vibrations. I know it does that with me.
What happened 3 and 4 months ago that might have caused this rumbling sound? Any ideas? What was different back then?
Spasms in your ears are related to stress and anxiety. So when you sleep, it seems your stress/anxiety drains away and your tinnitus ceases. But when you wake up, you begin thinking about all the things you have to do/face and the stress comes back. You can tell this by the pings and clicks and spasms starting. Then you rumbling tinnitus begins.
Obviously, weekends are less stressful for you, and thus your tinnitus is not as strong/loud. This is a good indication that you need to learn stress-reduction and anxiety-reduction techniques.
You see, it is not the stress itself that is bad, but how you REACT to the stress. You need to learn how to RESPOND correctly to stress. If you can, find yourself a good counselor (or perhaps find one on line) that can help put you on the right path.
When you cover your ears, you keep outside sounds from getting in, thus you hear your internal sounds louder. Not something you really want to do as then you are focusing on your rumbling tinnitus and that just tends to make it louder. You want to ignore your tinnitus as much as possible and focus instead on the loves of your life.
Many people, especially those under stress or who are anxious have tighter muscles–muscles tighten up due to these two conditions. Thus, your neck typically will be tight. When this happens and you turn your head hard either way, you hear a spike of louder tinnitus. You’ll probably also find that happens when you clench your teeth.
This is another indication that you need to learn how to unwind and relax.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil,
Thank you for the kind and quick response.
I think you hit a lot of nails right on the head, but if it’s indeed muscle spasms causing the tinnitus, shouldn’t I be able to find a way to stop them?
I definitely know what caused the stress and got things this bad – a problem in my family (solved and doing much better) combined with an ultra stressful year at work (somewhat better than last year, but still a highly stressful job). It all built up over several months and I obsessed over it all, and eventually it got to its worst point.
I’m a 34 year old male, always been healthy except for 7 years ago I developed anxiety and panic attacks which I treated with the same medicine I’m using now. No tinnitus back then and I recovered in around 2 months, and then slowly got off the meds and have been totally fine until now. The meds have me feeling like my old self again by now, so I don’t particularly feel stressed, but I know I must be and often find myself clenching or contorting my jaw.
Random side note – the tinnitus gets loudest when I open my mouth as wide as possible, and actually a little quieter if I clamp my mouth shut and bite down hard.
I know the endgame seems to be accepting and learning to live with it while finding ways to relax and better manage stress, but with all the changes in pitch, pulsation, volume, it’s quite hard not to constantly notice it and perceive it as a threat to my body.
If spasms are the problem, Would you buy in to any of the things I’m reading online about Botox injections into the spasming area? Or surgery?
Providing for a family seems hard enough, and I just can’t imagine 20 years of that with these symptoms…
Most of the questions I can relate to I have had tinnitus for as long as I can remember also oto . Had stap opearation which went badly years ago For the past several years i have had the phantom sound and vibration you discussed.Being 81 years old I feel there isno cure’Do you agree ??
Hi Don:
I agree. There is no “cure” for it, but you can learn to generally ignore it so it doesn’t bother you–if it is indeed bothering you now.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you for your reply.It’s good to know I’m not the only one with this condition.As you say you can [earn to live with it Masking noises do help.consenting on other things seems to be the best option.
I developed a rumbling sound in my left ear that intensifies at different times of the day. It’s nonstop even at its lowest sound. It’s sounds like a like when you cell phone would get too close to a speaker or generator vibration sound. Only time it’s stops if I start talking, or someone talks into the ear or when I disrupt it to move my head around or chewing food. Any idea what this could be.
Hi Brian:
Is the rumbling a sound or a physical vibration? The fact that it stops when you do physical things–moving your head, talking, chewing, etc.–makes me think you have a somatic kind of tinnitus that may be a result of your neck vertebrae, or jaw being out of proper alignment, or muscles in your head/neck area being too tight and becoming unbalanced.
Does you neck and/or jaw feel tight or painful? Are you also tight or under a lot of stress? Are the good days days where you have less stress or feel more relaxed?
The answers to these questions will give you a good idea where the problem is.
Cordially,
Neil
Hey doctor. I have exactly the same symptoms as Brian. I also feel a very low buzzing vibration in my left ear. Sometimes it completely dissapears. Sometimes it’s there non-stop for a couple of days. Today was a good day, didn’t feel it all day and OUT OF NOWHERE it came up. Now it feels like me whole ear is vibrating, as if someone puts their phone on ‘vibrate’ and putted the phone in my ear. If I talk, it dissapears and when I shake my head, it dissapears. But it comes back immediately after. Now I DO feel a weird feeling in my left jaw. When I open my mouth it also cracks, sometimes really bad, like a very hard SNAP it even scares me. Can this be related to the horrible buzzing and vibration in my ear?
I really would like to hear back from you.
Hi Dalo:
If you are actually feeling a vibration in your ear, then you almost certainly have tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS). This is when the muscle attached to your eardrum (tensor tympani) goes into spasms. You also hear a sound associated with this spasming.
This can be caused by your trigeminal nerve being hyperactiated and sending these signals to your tensor tympani muscle. This can be due to your neck vertebrae being out of proper alignment and thus “pinching” the trigeminal nerve. It can also be because your jaw is out of proper alignment–hence the loud cracking sound you are experiencing.
This can be made worse by being easily startled and high strung, and then worrying about this.
The way I’d approach it is to go to an upper cervical spine chiropractor and get your neck, and jaw properly aligned. In addition, calm down and get your anxiety under control. Between the two, you should notice your TTTS becoming less and less frequent and bothersome.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi I keep getting a rumbling sound like when you close your eyes really tight and U feel/hear a rumbling noise in tour head and ears but this happens all the time when I move my jaw it rumbles like thermos sometimg in my ear I keep my ears clean any clue what it is
Hi Mark:
Can’t say closing my eyes tight causes me any kind of sound. But I know that sometimes I do hear a rumbling sound which is one kind of tinnitus.
What I think you are experiencing is a rumbling tinnitus sound related to your jaw/neck muscles/tendons being out of proper alignment. The proof is that it occurs when you move your jaw, scrunch your eyes up tight, etc.
If I were in your shoes and this bothered me, I’d do two things. First, go to an upper cervical spine chiropractor (not a conventional one) and get everything in proper alignment. Then I’d probably go to a massage therapist to get all the muscles (and tendons/ligaments/etc) all properly relaxed and back in balance so they don’t pull things “off” again.
Cordially,
Neil
Hey Neil,
I am schizophrenic, do you know of any correlation of MES to psychosis? It sounds very much like MES is a kind of hallucination, something I experience often when unmedicated. Do you think an adjustment in antipsychotic medication dosage will help alleviate the symptoms of MES?
Thank you for your time,
Ian
Hi Ian:
I think that doctors often confuse Musical Ear Syndrome with certain aspects of schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia and MES both experience hallucinations. Since we are just talking about sound, they both experience auditory hallucinations. What most professionals miss is that there are two kinds of auditory hallucinations–what I call non-psychiatric auditory auditory hallucinations and psychiatric auditory hallucinations.
MES is a kind of non-psychiatric auditory hallucination. There is no psychosis. It is just your auditory system messing up a bit and basically playing bits and pieces of memories though your auditory system. These sounds can sure fool you and you may think they are real as they seem to come from your ears. MES sounds are typically music, songs, people singing, or what sounds like a radio or TV playing in another room. All the sounds are non-personal.
In contrast psychiatric auditory hallucinations are personal–typically hearing voices talking to or about you.
There is nothing to say that you can have both conditions at the same time.
When you are off your medications, what do you hear as opposed when you are on them?
I know a lot of the antipsychotic meds can CAUSE MES sounds. I don’t know whether they can stop them or not.
Cordially,
Neil
Hey Neil,
Thanks for replying so quickly. I wasn’t expecting such a fast response so I took my time checking back for a response.
To answer your question, your description of psychiatric vs. non-psychiatric hallucinations is accurate for me. The majority of my psychiatric hallucinations are voices. But, recently, I’ve started hallucinating the idle running of a diesel truck engine. A few months back, my partner and I noticed at around 4am every morning our neighbor would idle his truck of a few minutes before driving to work. It would shake our house and cause pain in our ears. As of about a week ago, I’ve started hallucinating this sound throughout the day.
Out of the antipsychotic meds you know that cause MES sounds, is risperidone on that list?
Thanks again for your time,
Ian
Hi Ian:
Yes Risperidone is on the list and there have been more than a thousand reports of hallucinations from taking that drug. So it would be a good one to stay away from if you think it is causing auditory hallucinations of any kind.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil and any 1 else who might like to reply
I have been having a lot of trouble with my ears these past 2 year they have just kept going from bad to worse ..it started with a hissing tinnitus on and off with mild dizziness however as time has gone on I now hear rumbling sounds in my ears / head I also get the rumbling through my whole body about 80% of the time ..I admit I have been highly stressed by all of this and I admit the stress probably isnt helping ..I have seen many drs and ent all of which say everything is normal (not in my world its not) I’ve also seen at least 3 naturooaths and took many different supplements thinking of it that’s basically when the ear n body vibrations started to become intense ..I’m wondering when you say it’s a phantom sound how a sound that’s not there can cause a vibration to occur within the body ..I’m baffled by all of this ..the dizziness I’m getting is also a lit more intense it’s more like I’m going to blackout than a spinning its like my brain is suddenly losing itself ..that’s what scares me the most that I might just collapse somewhere n even die ..I really would like your opinion on this and if theres any suggestions you have that could possibly reduce this happening as much as it is now
Regards
Dee
Hi Deanne:
What happened two years ago when your ears started to act up? What was going on in your life then?
When you get the rumbling through your whole body, do you physically “shake”, or is it only a feeling you have the you are sensing this rumbling in your body? In other words, if a person put a hand on your arm, would she feel it too?
In my case, I can be sitting in the car in a parking lot waiting for my wife and both hear and feel this rumbling sound from my car motor idling and thus shaking the car–but the motor is not running. I’m holding the keys in my hand–yet two of my senses are telling me the car is vibrating because the motor is running. That’s how well your brain can fool you. You just have to learn that this happens from time to time and discount it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not big deal–more of a curiosity now that I know what is happening.
I don’t know how your dizzy episodes tie in to all this. Do you have low blood pressure? If you stand up do you feel like you are going to fall over and black out? If that is your situation, they call this orthostatic dizziness. I used to have that kind of a problem way back. When you don’t get adequate blood supply to your ears, they don’t work properly and you may feel/hear this kind of rumbling sensation too.
If the supplements your naturopath gave you caused your problems, I’d be surprised, but anything is possible. Are you still taking them and having the same problems? If so, maybe stopping them for a couple of weeks would be a good idea–and see if the problems lessen or go away. That would be one way of proving whether they are the problem.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil
Thankyou so much for your reply..I have bought the book i just haven’t been able to focus enough to read it :/ to answer your questions this all started from a nasty flu i had that’s wen the ear fullness and tinnitus started ..me being me pushed for so many tests (to which I did have ) MRI cut scans hearing tests and all the other stuff that go with ENT all came back with hearing loss tinnitus and hypercusis also having narrow ear canals ..I also had an operation for acid reflux (nissen fundiplucation )as I had minor acid reflux but I pushed for the op because I was adamant my ear fullness and other problems were caused by acid reaching my eustation tubes causing them to block but obviously now I know that’s not the case n now I’m so much worse having such a big op I didnt really need ..I know j have a lot of inflammation in my throat and ears n I think that is half the problem..because I had so many investigations done and nothing being found (apart from tinnitus and hypercusis etc)which I feel it’s more than that I have opened myself up to a lot of stress as I know theres more wrong than has been found ..my stress has caused me to have a lot more issues candida mold leaky gut ..these apparently come hand in hand I also tested positive for metal toxicity from a hair test and a urine test which my dr sent me for although the drs test came back only slightly elevated (a third)so wasnt looked into further..
I dont physically shake I like u can feel the car running even when it’s not but also feel it indoors a lot now too as I said it’s about 80% of the time now..the blood pressure has dropped since I became Ill from 120/80 to now under 97/65 sometimes even less but it doesnt just happen when I stand ..the drs have put it down to my norm now even though it’s not my norm..I have recently stopped all the different supplements but dont feel any better but they might take a while to get out the system also 1 more thing because if the metal toxicity I have also become very sensitive to EMF I’m actually having to sleep in the garden in a tent as I’ve recently moved and there is 2 smart meters in the property but because of this Corona virus I xant get them removed until this virus is nipped In the bud
I look forward to your reply
Kind regards
Deanne
This site is amazing. Thank you for taking the time to answer all our questions. For about a week now I keep hearing low rumble sounds-like thunder-it’s about 7 rumbles in a minute. It’s not consistent- it’s broken up. I don’t feel vibrations. But it doesn’t stop all night long. I haven’t noticed it during the day. I live near a highway that has a bridge so I thought it might be trucks hitting a hole and it might cause this house. Another key thing is I just put in a pool- the concrete went down about 2 weeks ago (still putting water in it as I type this) and I added an addition to my house that isn’t complete. The walls are still open but have insulation. This rumble is enough to keep me up at night.
Any ideas?
Hi Shana:
The first thing is to determine whether what you are hearing is real or phantom. When you hear the rumbling, if you put the pillow over your ears and still hear the sound just as loud, then you know you have phantom rumbling sounds. If putting the pillow over your ears cuts the sounds out, then they are real.o
I suspect they are phantom. Our brains are amazing organs and do weird and wonderful things–and sometimes we wish they didn’t.
If you find the rumbling sounds are phantom, learn to ignore them and go back to sleep. In my case, I only am aware of rumbling sounds when I am awake, but that is just me.
Cordially,
Neil
I am so happy I found this site. I been wondering FOREVER what is this rumbling/vibrations noise in my ears/head and when I lay down it seems to intensify. I had this problem start in Jan on just my left ear and the doctor prescribed amoxicillin and it went away now it’s in my right ear and the doctor continues to prescribe the same medicine. I tried to explain to my doctor that this noise is more a vibration. It sounds like a train passing in my head. And I should mention I have a mild hearing loss already and wear aids. Do you have any idea as to what’s going on ?
Hi Kiara:
As I understand it, the rumbling sound is a phantom sound–one of the many tinnitus sounds, or possibly a Musical Ear Syndrome sound. The vibrations are also phantom–a sense of feeling something that is not happening. Since low-frequency sounds typically are produced by rumbling machinery of some kind, your brain has learned to associate the two together. Thus, when you hear phantom rumbling sounds, you often also “feel” them. A real life example would be you feel your house shaking when the train goes by–you hear the train and feeling the vibrations in your house. So your brain gives you that combination when you hear phantom sounds.
I don’t think it is anything to be worried about–it’s just there. For example, I’m hearing this low-pitched rumbling right now as I write this, in addition to my other high-pitched tinnitus whining sound.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil
I have an ongoing problem, sensing vibration, mainly as a rumble feeling in the head, sometimes the chest.
I hear no sound at all, none. Mainly affected laying in bed or sitting down . Stress makes it worse, but also appears more when raining or windy. Enviromental health officer monitored for.a.week and found low.frequency noise in the house, which can be viewed but not heard. I have also experienced a feeling of the bed vibrating even though it doesnt and being shook awake, almost like a washing machine finishing its spin cycle. This usually occurs after 4 or 5 hours sleep. Occasionally I have experienced tinnitus caused by waxed up ears, particularly after syringing. I think I my problem is something external like a wind turbines or sewer drain. These are being investigated, but it could also very well be me, any ideas?
Hi Peter:
The first thing you have to do is determine whether what you think you feel is real or phantom. You’ve had people out to monitor this, but the easiest way to know is to have other people come over and see if they also feel this rumbling. If not, then it is phantom, not real. Of course sensitive instruments are going to report vibrations, but the real test is if other people can also feel them.
Assuming they don’t feel them also, then you have to go on the premise that these feelings are phantom in origin, but feel real to you. The fact that stress makes it worse leads me to believe that it is phantom, just like stress makes tinnitus and Musical Ear Syndrome worse. It does the same with Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome, Loudness Hyperacusis and other ear conditions.
If you notice it more when you are lacking sleep or are very tired, that is also an indication it is phantom in my experience. If this is the case, you need more sleep and less stress. Otherwise, I don’t think it is anything to worry about. That’s how I see it.
Cordially,
Neil
This rumbling started about 2 months ago. I only hear it when the room is quiet without any sounds. Here it both day and night and everywhere I go. Sounds like a muffled cell phone that has been covered or placed in a drawer. Its not a tinnitus ring, but rather a low intermittant roar.. How can I get rid of it? Its hard for me to get to sleep at night beacuse it seems louder then.
Hi Glenda:
Tinnitus has many sounds. We typically say our ears are ringing, but that is more a euphemism for all the various tinnitus sounds which include ringing, roaring, rumbling, blowing, beating, banging, buzzing, humming, hissing, clicking, chirping, clanging, drumming, fluttering, sizzling, whooshing and whistling sounds to name some of the more common ones.
Tinnitus often seems louder at night because it is quiet so the sound stands out from the silence. Besides your brain is not occupied with the many things it deals with during the day so gives more time to it at night.
The common solution is to have a soft source of real sound for your ears/brain to hear and process. Some people like a fan running. Others use white or pink noise. Others like environmental sounds. One of the calming sounds is the sound of water in its various forms–waves lapping on the beach, a babbling brook sound, sound of a waterfall, sound of rain, etc. Others like musical sounds such as fractal music.
The right sound for you is whatever gives you the most relief and lets you get to sleep.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello doctor,
I started having this problem two nights ago and I just came across this and after hearing about everyone’s experience, I don’t know if I should be more relieved or stressed. I’ve been terrified and anxious and stressed since it started. I feel like I hear it more in my right ear than my left ear and at first, I thought it was a neighbor’s car engine but I don’t think that’s the case. For me, I hear a low motor-like rumble that lasts for no more than about 5 seconds and then it goes away for a few minutes or hours before it comes back. Sometimes I feel vibration in my ear but no pain. Right now, my right ear feels full/clogged. I’ve tried to see the difference if its an outside noise or in my head but, the times that I do it, I either 1– Miss my timing because I only hear it for a few seconds before it goes away and 2– When I do manage to do it for a split second, it gets softer but when I remove the pillow from my head, it’s pretty much gone or low. I hear it ONLY in my bedroom (which I spend most of my days now) and it’s driving my anxiety through the roof. I am still a teenager and I am so scared. Could you help me out a bit?
Hi L:
You should be relieved, not more stressed. It is a benign thing, nothing I’d get worried about. I’ve heard this low-pitched rumbling sensation for several decades with no problems. Of course, I don’t worry about it or get stressed over it.
If you only hear it in your bedroom, there could be a couple of reasons. First, because that is where you spend most of your time so logically you’d have many more chances of hearing it while you were in there. Second, you may be experiencing some sort of audio pareidolia from a soft background sound that you only hear in your bedroom.
This is probably a phantom sound because logically it won’t be the neighbor’s car–only making sounds for such a short time.
You need to quit worrying and obsessing over it. You are only going to make it worse. Better to do what I do and ignore it, or take it lightly–like I joke about my car’s motor running when it’s not because the tach reads zero and I’m right there in the car. I just say that my brain is playing tricks on me again. It’s no big deal–but all your worry can turn it into a big deal and you DON’T want that to happen.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi There
I have been experiencing a whirring kind of droning noise in my right ear for the last 7 weeks or so. It normally happens when I lay down at night and gives me a mild sensation not quite a vibration as such. I recently had my ear syringed and there was quite a build up of wax . I hoped this would sort out the noise but sadly it hasn’t. It has become a little fainter. I have always had a low hiss in both ears and this has improved slightly. But the rumbling sound which starts at stops is quite frustrating and keeping me awake some night.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance
Hi Wenda:
What happened 7 weeks ago that may have caused this noise to start? Any ideas? What was different? More stress? Tight muscles in neck or shoulders? Took any drugs or changed dose? Had a cold/virus? Etc.
Does your rumbling sound go away if you sit up or only there when you are laying down?
I have even more questions that you have
Cordially,
Neil
about 6 weeks ago I started hearing like a motor idling, humming and body vibration. This happens at night time, usually between 10pm till 8am. t
The first time it started the motor sound woke me up and my ears and head were hurting and felt vibration on the chest. i couldnt go back to sleep. I go through this every night, the vibrations is througout my whole body and all over my apt (floor, bed, sofa, day bed, everywhere). i cant sleep and i cant seat or lay anywhere, I wake up in the morning nauseas. This is driving me crazy. Yet I am fine when I’m out. My family doesnt hear feel it or hear it, either does the maintenance people in the complex (they’ve been here 4 times). My dr has given me anti-anxiety, i had a hearing test (i have loss of hearing), i had a 48-hour heart monitor on. My family keeps telling me i have tinnitus, but i dont think so.
Hi Benita:
I think you have tinnitus that combines with your sense of feel–so you “hear” the rumbling sound (that’s the tinnitus) and your brain manufactures the vibration feeling to match the rumbling sound you are hearing.
I get this from time to time–just last week in fact. It’s nothing to be worried about–at least I don’t worry about it.
Cordially,
Neil
For about 3 years I’ve been having issuses with a constant bass like hum in my left ear. It hums loudly and i can feel a vibration deep within my ear. I only notice it when its quiet with limited background noise. When i talk or shake my head the hum goes away, only to come right back when i finish talking. It also goes away if i plug my ear. Also i have recently, over the last year, started having high pitched tinnitus, but have no idea what caused it. I had a hearing test done and don’t have hearing loss. I also suspect i have TMJ, as my jaw crackles. Do you have any idea what might be causeing the hum?
Hi Rebecca:
What happened 3 years ago just before the humming sound began? What was different? There must be some reason for it, but from the little you have told me, I don’t have any insight into what it might be. Was your TMJ a problem 3 years ago?
Cordially,
Neil
Dear Neil. For about six weeks, I have been hearing a low-frequency rumbling noise. It is very annoying. I have asked the local council to witness it, my housing association to repair boiler house pumps an d my MP has approached the council too, I only can hear it when inside my flat. If I go away I cannot hear it. What is even more disturbing is that other people cannot hear it. My doctor is referring me for a hearing test. Have I caught the virus or have this MES? I have been self-isolating for over three months as I am over 70. How do I get rid of this infernal noise? I can hear now and it rumbles on 24/7. The doctor told me to have a fan on at night to drown it out.
Hi Nina:
Since no one can hear it, you know it is all in your head. You have a rumbling kind of tinnitus. It has nothing to do with your flat. It’s not MES either–just tinnitus.
What happened in your life 6+ weeks ago–anything that might have caused this tinnitus? Besides being homebound all this time. Anything you can think of?
I hear that rumbling sound from time to time. With me I can be at home or out in my car. Just last night I heard it while sitting in a lawn chair.
It’s nothing to worry about. It’s just there–just like my other tinnitus sounds.
I don’t know how to get rid of it. I just basically ignore it and get on with my life. Getting upset over it will just make things worse.
Try the fan at night and see whether it helps or not. For numbers of people with tinnitus, a fan on helps them get to sleep. Never works for me, but then I am so deaf I can’t hear a fan anyway..
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil, I have a similar experience to others on here – a low, rumbling sound. I can feel the vibrations and also a kind of pressure that alleviates when the noise abruptly stops. I hear it in my flat, and also in other locations (usually buildings) – but my partner can hear it too at the same time as me. We can’t work it out – our neighbours can’t hear it. Hope you can help. Thanks
Hi Anna:
Do you and your partner always here it together at the same time? Or does your partner sometimes hear it when you don’t and vice versa? And does this apply also to other places besides your flat?
If the neighbors in your same building don’t hear it, then I doubt it is a real sound. Ditto if you are away from your flat and people around you don’t hear it.
I’m really curious if you and your partner always here this at the same time or not.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil,
I came across your website tonight and felt compelled to ask if you can offer any advice please.
I have been hearing what sounds like a washing machine/ dryer cycle for approximately the last 6 weeks, maybe longer. It is driving me nuts as my husband cannot hear it. It is always on my left side and feels like its bouncing off the left side of my head drilling into my brain rather than normal hearing. The sound is there in cycles like a dryer, cycle of stop and start. We live in a big apartment building and I thought I could hear someone’s dryer or washing machine, but its all through the apartment not just one room.
I have pretty severe TMJ which exacerbated recently on my left. My whole left face side has been going numb with a pressure feeling and my ear feels like the pressure is off, and full, and sometimes sharp stabbing pains. I don’t have an infection but do get vertigo and had a really bad episode years ago. I also have scar tissue in my left ear from a middle ear operation when I was 6 years old….I’m 46 now. I also have possible trigeminal neuralgia which I have only been experiencing recently and I get migraine and cluster headaches. Yes there is a lot going on. I am being referred by my physio to a TMJ specialist, and also had an MRI of my brain which shows no issues. I thought I was having a stroke when my symptoms first started in August.
Is it possible this sound I hear day and night and only in my home is phantom noise? Its very real and I have been convinced its not just my imagination, although my husband seems to think its related to my TMJ?…however, after reading your website I am now wondering if I have another form of tinnitus. What do you think? Could it have been made worse by the MRI scan and the sounds? I only just thought of this.
I hear it all times of day and night when its noisy outside or quiet at night. If I put my finger in my ear it goes away.
I have been under a lot of stress too.
Thanks for any help, Jen
Hi Jen:
The rumbling sound is a kind of tinnitus. I’ve heard it myself numerous times over the years. Usually I just hear it for a few minutes or an hour at a time. It’s not a continuous sound that I hear forever like my standard tinnitus hissy-whine sound.
It’s interesting that putting your fingers in your ears makes this rumbling tinnitus go away. I’ve heard from other people that have had the same experience.
Considering all your symptoms you face now him at the pains that the vertigo and the trigeminal neuralgia as well as the headaches, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if your C1 and C2 vertebrae at the top of your neck are out of proper alignment. This pinches various nerves and when they can’t do their jobs weird symptoms appear.
If I were in your shoes, the first thing I would do is go to an upper cervical chiropractor (not a conventional chiropractor) and have him check me out to make sure my cervical spine is in proper alignment. You can find a upper cervical chiropractor at http://www.upcspine.com/ and then click on the “practitioners” tab to find one near you.
I don’t really think the MRI caused this rumbling tinnitus or made it worse. Your TMJ can also be related to your upper neck being out of proper alignment. That is why I would see an upper cervical chiropractor before I did anything else and get yourself properly aligned. Once your neck is properly aligned and the treatment is holding (it can easily slip back out into its old position so you may have to have several treatments before it holds in its correct place), then I’d see what symptoms you have left. You may find that your facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia) and your vertigo, and your facial numbness are all a thing of the past. After this, if there are any remaining symptoms then it’s time to look into them.
If you are interested in learning more about your upper cervical spine and the special chiropractors and all the conditions in works for, you might want to read my article on alleviating Ménière’s disease. I don’t think you have full blown Ménière’s disease, but you do have some of the symptoms such as the vertigo, so read between the lines and understand what is going on and how this treatment helps. You can read this article at https://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/atlas-adjustments-alleviate-menieres-disease/ .
Cordially,
Neil
This may not be tinnitus!
I’m hoping what I’m about to say will help someone, as I’ve had the same experience as many people on this forum. And I once believed I was experiencing tinnitus.
Months ago I began hearing a deep rumbling noise that was especially noticeable when I laid down to sleep. At first, I thought a truck was rumbling outside my bedroom. When I looked through the blinds nothing was there. When laid down again I could almost feel the vibrations in my head through the floor.
I spoke to my doctor who correctly guessed that I had experienced a middle-ear-effusion (when fluid builds up behind your eardrum). Sometimes this happens after a small, unnoticeable infection.
I was prescribed a steroidal nasal spray and all my symptoms disappeared within 1-2 months.
Please talk to your doctor. Do not assume you have untreatable tinnitus.
You may very well have a middle-ear-effusion which can be fixed in a matter of weeks to months.
Dr. Bauman, I’m hoping you can help spread the word about this potentiality.
Thank you
Hi Gabriel:
the rumbling sound you were experiencing is a kind of tinnitus. It’s the underlying cause that you are disputing. Many times this rumbling sound is accompanied by the sensation of vibration, just like you and I have experienced.
I do not believe that all cases of hearing this rumbling sound are related to middle ear fluid buildup. It may have been in your case, but it’s certainly not in every case. For example, I’m hearing that low rumbling right now as I write this, and it won’t stay around very long it’ll be gone but is not because I have ear infections. If it were I would have an infection for five minutes and it would go away and then I get another one and so on and that’s not the case.
I’d like to learn more about your experience. If you could expand on what you said so that I can see the difference between what you experience and what I and other people experience.
Do you only experiences rumbling when you go to bed, or can you experience and when you’re up and on about? Perhaps that is the difference between your version and mine. Also, how long does your rumbling last? Is a constant, or does it come and go?
Cordially,
Neil
I am so thankful to find your website and learn that low frequency tenitus is not a big medical concern so long as i can sleep at night. For your research interest, most nights while sleeping only I wake up (light sleeper) to a low frequency hum i hear in my left ear only. Hum instantly goes away if i suddenly move my head. it will come back a few seconds later and will last a few seconds. comes and goes like that.
Hi Sonny:
Thanks for the report. It sounds like your tinnitus is probably the somatic kind–caused by body movements or incorrect body alignments.
Cordially,
Neil
I’ll goto chiropractor & acupuncture in new year and let you know how it goes. thanks for your feedback 🙂
Oh, i should mention the low frequency hum has two distinct frequencies. starts out low (several seconds) then usually but not always instant change to even lower frequency (few seconds).
A few years ago I was diagnosed with genetic hearing loss. The ringing has always been there, different tones different patterns. However for the past 2 months or so, I’ve been hearing what sounds like a semi truck parked outside. It happened a hand full of time over the past couple years, but recently it gets so loud. It’s causing me alot of distress. When it gets louder, so does the ringing. At times I lose all hearing from one ear and only hear a loud ringing. It last for about 15 seconds. Coming on suddenly, then slowly the ringing softens and I can hear from the ear again. It happens to both, but never at the same time. The ringing has been steadily and constantly getting worse the past few years. The doctor told me there wasnt much I could do for tinnitus and to play rain storm sounds when I go to sleep. It’s just really starting to get to me. Idk what to do.
Hi Faith:
My first question is, “are you taking any drugs or medications?” Some of what you are describing almost sounds like ototoxic side effects.
What happened about two months ago that was different? Did you start any new drugs? Did you increase the dose of any existing medications? Were you under increased stress? I need to know more about your situation before I can figure out what the next logical step would be.
Cordially,
Neil
Firstly, I want to apologize for the delayed response. I take melatonin at bedtime, and tylenol once in a blue moon. I do smoke marijuana. I have severe anxiety and dont like to take medications if I can help it. I was on medications in the past prescribed by a psychiatrist on and off from the ages of 11-26. I’m not sure what changed in August or what made it different. I’m under immense stress almost on the daily basis. Since I posted last the semi truck noise has gotten louder and I’m also hearing music. But not like a particular song or words, just kinda sounds like far off rhythmic beats.
Also, when I shake my head the semi truck rumbling and rhythmic beats goes away, but comes back the second I stop.
Hi Faith:
Stress can certainly mess up your ears and lead to various weird hearing problems. I think that is why the rumbling tinnitus is getting worse and worse. As a first step forward, you need to get your anxiety under control and then see how your rumbling tinnitus reacts. Hopefully, it will begin to fade away.
It could be that you have hyperactivity in the nerves in your neck and head is causing the rumbling sounds, and when you shake your head, these nerves settle down and do their jobs and at that point the phantom sounds go away. If your neck is “tight”, you might find that massage therapy would also help in this regard.
Cordially,
Neil
I hear, just in my left ear, a really low frequency “hum” that slightly rumbles but is pretty constant that I estimate to be somewhere around 70-80 hz. It is way worse at night (and definitely worse in certain rooms and environments than others) and the one thing that makes it completely go away, at least for half of a day, is sleep. When I get up in the morning, it is ALWAYS COMPLETELY GONE as long as I got at least 4 hours of sleep (if I just lay in bed and don’t sleep, it won’t go away). It usually starts very faintly in the middle of the afternoon and as the day goes on, it gradually gets louder.
The only thing that gives it short-term total relief (like, 20 minutes worth and then it quickly comes back) is right after taking a shower where I blast the water on my neck and upper back for a good 10 minutes. And strange thing about when taking a shower – blasting the water on certain parts of the right side of my head, the sound form that emanates out of my left ear. Also sometimes just walking barefoot on a hard floor, with every step I take I hear a loud “thud” coming out of my left ear. I’ve had this off and on for a good 10 years now, and the one thing that sometimes gives long-term relief (months worth) is after one or several chiropractic adjustments.
One bizarre thing about this is when it is bothering me, I seem to have super-human ultra-low frequency hearing in that ear (like, under 30 hz). I live kind of close to train tracks, and I can “detect” the train coming in my left ear before I can even really hear it or notice it in my right ear. Almost like my whole body is acting like a giant ear and funneling it into my left eardrum.
Hi Brandon:
I’m curious. When you can hear the train coming with your left ear, does the train always come? In other words, are you really hearing the train and not a phantom train?
Since the best treatment is chiropractic, I’d suggest that you see an upper cervical spine chiropractor so they can specifically measure your C1 and C2 vertebrae and make sure they are in proper alignment.
I suspect you have gone to conventional chiropractors and they have helped you–but they do not specifically carefully align your C1 and C2 and that could be the root of your problem.
You can find a list of upper cervical chiropractors by going to http://www.upcspine.com/ and clicking on “Practitioners”. See if that is your underlying problem.
Obviously it gets worse the more tired you are, so as you begin to run down in the afternoon it appears and gets louder as the day/evening progresses.
The water in your shower blasting on your neck also relaxes the muscles so they don’t pull so hard on your spine and thus temporarily take the pressure off your auditory nerves and that lets the tinnitus go away.
Cordially,
Neil
I have been hering rumbling, thunder-like sounds coming out from my speakers when set on high volume. If I lowered the volume the sound went completely away, I checked the connections of the speakers going into my soundcard and sure enough out of 3 cables going in one was the culprit for the noise, I rotated it a bit and the annoying noise went away. So in my case the culprit was a semi-faulty sound connector.
Hi Matt:
That was an easy fix and fortunately didn’t have anything to do with your ears.
Cordially,
Neil
I started having a sound like this, although it might be different from the OP.
It’s a low-pitch buzzing/rumbling in my right ear only, and it’s worse right after listening to music (even at low/medium volume) or after using something that vibrates the right side of my body. I’ve been having this for about 3 months now.. doctors checked my ear for infection or fluid behind the eardrum and didn’t see anything. One prescribed pregnisone in case it was allergy-related but that didn’t do anything. I got an MRI today but don’t know the results yet.
Today I was reading about auditory fatigue and styrene exposure, at this point I think it might be that.. My workplace has an industrial size 3D printer and I was breathing in a lot of fumes from it a few months ago. It wasn’t a well-ventilated space and after a few hours I was so sick of the smell I asked my boss if I could leave and work from home. This happened multiple days in a row where I’d smell it for maybe an hour or two before leaving. I think there were some days I was listening to music to cover up the sound of coworkers outside my office talking, so that might have combined the styrene fumes with sound exposure around 95-105 dB. If it is this, what do I do about it? A hearing test only showed very slight hearing loss in my right ear, but my right ear keeps buzzing from something that sounds like auditory fatigue, but only for low- and mid-frequencies. Is there any drug that might reverse the effects of styrene? Maybe taking vitamins/folic acid to help with repair? Plugging it with an earplug as much as possible to not irritate it with sound?
Hi Victor:
The rumbling sounds you hear are a form of tinnitus. It could be due to being exposed to styrene fumes which can cause both hearing loss and tinnitus. It can also mess up the auditory circuits in your brain so it doesn’t process sounds properly.
Also, the ototoxic side effects of styrene are made worse in the presence of loud sounds, so you don’t want to compound your problems by wearing earphones with the volume cranked up to drown out the tinnitus.
Supplementing with zinc and magnesium may help as these two minerals are critical to your ears working properly and if your levels are low, that could be contributing to the problem.
I don’t know what you mean by auditory fatigue. Hard of hearing people become physically fatigued from straining to hear all the time, but that is not auditory fatigue.
Cordially,
Neil
This article describes to a T exactly what I experience. Honestly I think it happens from low frequency sounds we cannot hear like the power lines, wifi equipment, etc… mine only happens when the power lines by my house have a slight hum to them otherwise my ears are crystal clear and I can actually hear the night air Haha
Just a suggestion. Like did anyone get a wifi electric use meter? Live close to power lines? Or sometimes just happens naturally I guess…
Hi Blazeaglory:
I think you are getting a bit mixed up. You say, “it happens from low frequency sounds we CANNOT HEAR” and yet you HEAR them. You can’t have it both ways.
If you are referring to strange tinnitus sounds, I don’t doubt that various forms of electrical energy can (and do) cause tinnitus.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Blazeglory:
How can you hear “low frequency sound we cannot hear”? If they are real sounds that are above 20 Hz or so, you’ll hear them.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello. My name is Jamie. I have ongoing grave mental health difficulties, including schizophrenia and others. I’ve heard a low pitch rumbling here and there for quite a few years. I always thought it was a hallucination of some sort. It’s the vibration that’s baffled me. It’s easy to put the audio down to a hallucination, but this strange rumbling. Its like a far off but still nearby sort of rumble. I would imagine it sounds something like being in a submarine with the low pitch humming/rumbling in the background. If freaks me out. It actually feels like a nearby engine. As I lay on my bed I feel the vibrations coming through my bed and the walls. I’m hoping it’s this MES thing. It almost sounds like the fires of hell burning nearby. It kinda scares me. My schizophrenic mind is fragile. Plays tricks on me.
This seems kinda similar:
https://newrepublic.com/article/132128/maddening-sound
Thanks.
J. ✌
Hi Jamie:
Don’t feel bad that your brain is playing tricks on you what with the rumbling sounds accompanied by the vibrations. Both are phantom. Lots of people experience both. I know what it is like as I have this too from time to time.
In this case, you are hearing a rumbling kind of tinnitus. And since in real life, rumbling sounds typically cause vibrations, your brain adds the phantom vibrations to make it more realistic. Thus you have two senses telling you things are happening that aren’t there at all. This sure seems real, with two senses involved, but it is totally phantom–non-psychiatric auditory and tactile hallucinations.
I classify this as either tinnitus or MES–not quite sure where to place it.
Realize that two senses are playing tricks on you and ignore it. This is NOT a part of schizophrenia so you can rest easy there.
The article link you sent explores other possible explanations, but includes the possibility of tinnitus. From all the research I’ve done on this topic, I think that in almost all cases, but not in every case, it really is tinnitus and not outside sounds of esoteric origins.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi, this site is interesting! I have been desperate to understand what is going on. I hear a low humming, truck idling type sound and then my condo feels like it is gently bobbing up and down, almost like on a boat with soft wave. There is like a pulsating sensation. I know this is not in my head because I can hear the beams make snapping sounds when my condo “moves.” I have had various people here but they come in during the day and stay maybe for an hour if that. I can really pick up on this in the middle of the night when I am trying to sleep. People tell me that it is in my head and I am super sensitive. I happen to live in condo with two large underground propane tanks right behind me. Traffic on my street moves the ground. Could it be connected. The propane company is adamant that it is not the tanks, in fact, they are very upset with me when I call them. They say it is impossible for propane tanks to rumble or have an idle sound. I think I am going nuts. Should I go to an ear doctor?
Hi Renate:
I’m sure what you are hearing are phantom sounds–that is why others don’t hear them. So yes, it is all in your head, but no, you are not going nuts (although it may feel like it).
You should be able to easily tell whether sounds are real or not. If they are real and you put your fingers in your ears to block them, the sounds will stop or be much quieter. If they are phantom, they will still be just as loud.
You may be surprised to learn that many people hear such sounds and also feel the house/building/car vibrating/shaking in unison to these sounds. When two of your senses re telling you something is happening, it is hard to believe that your brain is totally fooling you.
Going to an ear doctor will probably be a waste of time as there is nothing medically wrong so he won’t know how to treat you–and taking drugs isn’t the answer. In the long term, it typically just makes things worse.
Now that you know what it is, and that it is nothing to worry about, just ignore it. That is what I do. It soon goes away (until next time).
Cordially,
Neil
Neil, you are an amazing person doing this for others.
I messaged you in 2019 about this and to my disappointment, I still have the hum but, I’ve learnt to live with it.
I’m still no closer to know what it is, why it is, when it is, it has a complete mind of it’s own, comes when it wants goes when it wants and for as long as it wants. I was wondering what you think about hormones and the hum /rumble? I seem to, and I say that loosely, but it seems louder just before and maybe the first day of my cycle????????
I’m 43 so…….??
Other than that I haven’t tried deleting the chocolate yet which you suggested…,
I’ll have my last one tonight and try it for a few weeks from tomorrow and let you know….
Claudia
Hi Claudia:
The hum is one of the various kinds of tinnitus sounds. I know what you mean about it having a mind of its own. I hear a rumbling sound from time to time and it comes and goes just like yours does.
I know that in women, hearing loss is associated with a certain time in their monthly cycles, so I wouldn’t be surprised if tinnitus might be too. This does not apply to all women, but some notice it.
A lot of people hear that humming/rumbling kind of tinnitus. I’ve devoted a whole chapter to it in my new tinnitus book that should be available by the end of this month.
Let me know how the chocolate project goes. But somehow I don’t think chocolate is the culprit.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil
I’ve just read so many tonight as I have this same type of sounds. It is music with singing even with backup groups. It began last May time when it began and Elvis Presley was the first one. I thought he was singing in a concert quite near. Then it was songs from 50’s that I didn’t even know but found out with help from partner by me trying to sing it myself. It’s so very odd and even happens when I’m alone in the bathroom. I’ve even worked out I have to have some kind of fan or heater etc for it and even in a moving car.
I had a Brain Haemorrhage 1992 and so strange how it’s just began last year.
When I hear the songs and even if I know the record they only sing so many lines of the words and also repeat it as though it’s trying to tell me something. This made me think I’m mad too.
Kind regards
Valerie
Hi Valerie:
If you only hear this music when you have a fan/heater/motor on, then what you are experiencing is called audio pareidolia. Your brain is taking the constant background sound of the fan and turning it into music in your case. When the fan goes off, the music stops instantly.
If you hear phantom music without any constant background sounds, then you are experiencing Musical Ear Syndrome. These are quite different conditions, but the result is much the same in that you “hear” music that is not there. The former is technically an illusion while the latter is an auditory hallucination.
It is common to have the same lines repeated over and over again endlessly.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello!
My issue is that I am able to hear ‘vibrations’ other people can’t. Like the boiler, a car parked in from of my house, or a generator in a fun fair.
Sometimes I feel the vibrations in my legs or arms, or in my neck, and most recently in my bchest.
Also, I feel in my ears the same feeling as being in a plane descending, nose gets blocked, neck is stiff, and have actual pain in my ears.
It does go away if I go to a place far away from cars, or electric equipment, motors, etc.
If this is phantom vibrations, why do I feel pain? 🙁
Johanna
Hi Johanna:
Since others can’t hear what you “hear”, obviously you are “hearing” and perceiving phantom sounds/feelings.
Your brain can really fool you, especially when you perceive two or more different sensations at the same time such as hearing and feeling a phantom sensation.
By the same token, you can “feel” phantom pain. Your brain perceives the pain as real, but it can be just as phantom as the “vibrations” you perceive that no one else can feel.
Cordially,
Neil
I have the same thing. I think it is related to hyperacusis, there is a source of the sound. My ears can hear the low frequency for some reason. I have tinnitus for 5 years now. The rumbling is worse at night when I am in bed
but sometimes I hear it during the day. I talk it up to very sensitive hearing. Especially low frequencies. I really think it has something to do with the mechanisms in my ear. Maybe it’s inflammation? I’ve been starting to do medical medium protocols. I don’t believe these are phantom sounds.
Hi Peggie:
Unless people around you can hear the same rumbling sounds, it’s almost certain this is a phantom tinnitus sound, even though you don’t think so. If you want much more information about these low rumbling sounds, read Chapter 17 in the 8th edition of my book, “Take Control of Your Tinnitus”.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi, just reading through this page and noticing a lot of similarities in some stories, but mine is a bit different.
I get a rumbling noise That I would explain as hearing a rocket taking off in a video. Its not loud, more of a background noise that comes and goes randomly with varying intensities. I notice it more at night, and when I am laying down as far as I can tell. Especially while laying on my back. I would say that I can “feel” the sound in my head like you can sort of feel loud deep bass.
This all seems to be related to my poor ability to sleep. If the rumbling stops long enough for me to relax enough to start dosing off, part of my body will suddenly jerk and I will be jerked from my dosing off. Sometimes I will lay in bed all night trying to fall asleep and this will happen over and over 10 or so times a night. I also get dizzy spells occasionally or weird rumbling or even a fizzing in my head while the rumbling sound in my ears is occuring. Which I believe is a phantom noise. I have tested this by putting ear plugs in. Sometimes the noise seems to go away when I do that… some times the noise persists when the plugs go in. I also get the occasional “ear drum twitch” which is certainally different than the rumbling as It only lasts about a second and I can obviously hear/ feel it in my right ear when it happens there or my left ear when it happens there.
I have had ear infections in the past (recently cleaned my ears out the rumbling persists) and had covid in 2020, but healthy other wise. I’m 26. I’m not expecting you to have any answers, but I’m wondering if this is simply an ear thing or some kind of neurological condition. I sure have no clue. Thanks.
Hi Korey:
When you “hear” rumbling sounds, it is quite common to also “feel” vibrations of this phantom sound.
Putting ear plugs in your ears, or covering your ears, or body movements can temporarily interrupt certain kinds of phantom sounds as you have found out.
To answer your question, in my opinion, this is an “ear thing” rather than a neurological condition. The rumbling sounds are one of the many kinds of tinnitus sounds.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you for the input sir.
This is not coming from inside anybodys head. Its an outside sound. Nobody i know can hear it, but a simple dB app picks it up, it ranges around 20, the patterns the sound makes are seen and obvious. I started hearing this 2013 along with black helecopters hovering over my property for wks at a time. I believe its a secretive sound response intiating varied functions. I will come home from wk and i cant hear it, then il start making noise or a phone call and it starts ramping up. The more sound i make the louder and more invasive it becomes. Its the worst during the news i often comment out loud, i live alone. When im quiet for hours like during the nite, it calms but i can still hear it at a low frequency. I really think its a military based functioning listening device, listening to all pple. Not many pple can hear it, mostly pple who might have an issue with their hearing? I have tinnitus, dont know where i got it or when i just noticed it one day. This hum could be a cern induced technological invasive direct energy weapon. The sound varied from one to both ears, lately its on the left side. I guess all the truth will come out in the end, during the 7 yr reign of the nwo beast system. I feel its all related. Jesus is Lord.
Look up direct energy weapon, voice to skull military weapon. Cern has a lot of horrible secret technologies they’re trialling on targeted individuals, look a up target individuals.
No offense doctor, but in this case you don’t understand what u r dealing with. This is spiritual and military. Not us, its ectraneous.
Your not doing these people any favors by keeping the truth from them. Your explanations are nothing short of naive. Not everything is medical. Why don’t you look up d.e.w and cern, u might learn something.
Hi Pooh:
If there is a real sound that sound meters pick up at 20 dB, then people with good hearing should be able to hear it. Since they can’t, something is wrong. And if you heard black helicopters hovering over your place for weeks at a time–how often did you see them? I can’t believe you heard them and couldn’t see them if they were right overhead.
To me this just shows you were “hearing things” that were not real.
You can’t have “secret sounds”. If they are in the range of frequencies human ears can hear, people will hear them. Again, since they don’t hear these “secret sounds” they must be phantom sounds in your head.
If these sounds ramp up when you make noise or talk, that is an indication that you are hearing reactive tinnitus. And since the more noise you make the louder it becomes, that is again proof that you are hearing reactive tinnitus. And since tinnitus is generated in your head, not you ears, you are indeed hearing phantom sounds. There is nothing esoteric about this.
If it was a military listening device, it wouldn’t be producing sound. It would be listening to sound. You have and are hearing tinnitus. It’s not a CERN energy weapon. Tinnitus can vary from ear to ear at times–my tinnitus certainly does.
So there is nothing you have said that doesn’t fit with known tinnitus and reactive tinnitus. This has nothing to do with direct energy weapons, secret technologies or anything else.
I’m doing my readers a favor by telling them the truth–that you are deluded and are ascribing your tinnitus/reactive tinnitus to mythical forces rather than what it really is–tinnitus.
I’m not naive. I’ve studied such things from the Woodpecker radars in the 1950, the HAARP of the ’70s and the CERN of current years. And there is nothing I can find that fits what you are describing better than that you have tinnitus–which you admit to. You are the one that is naive and deluded.
There is a lot of nonsense spouted on the Internet about targeted individuals, etc. For a change, try reading a website that debunks all this stuff. You could start at https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Targeted_Individuals.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil, I can definitely relate to many of the people on this post that are hearing low bass rumble sounds and I also have severe tinnitus and the only way I’ve been able to get through the nights is using a masking machine with a Babbling Brook sound that I’ve modified on my free Audacity tool to increase the bass tracks of the sound I downloaded from Pond5. And recently, I was able to merge a boat engine idling sound with the Babbling Brook sound using Audacity and that helps to mask the nightly drum beat rumble I hear in my neighborhood. And not sure what this rumble is, but in colder weather its really bad, so I’m thinking it might be many of my neighbor’s heat pumps in some kind of harmonic rythm or maybe trucks running at night from a major highway about 5 miles away. But I’m wondering on this post if anyone has found a masking masking machine that allows you to insert more than 1 USB MP3 into the device which would allow you to switch between USB sounds or if anyone has found a sound expert who can custom make sounds, for example, I’m looking for a low bass sound to mask this deep drum beat rumble a little better, thanks for any suggestions all and empathize greatly with everyone as its a real problem for sure and without my masking machine i’d be in real trouble for sure, it almost a life saver as I just can’t get used to these sounds after years of trying!
Hi Bob:
I’m curious. Do you hear these rumbling sounds every night, or just some nights?
Also, when you are away from home overnight, do you still hear these same sounds? If so, you know they can’t be real because these same sounds won’t follow you everywhere you go. Thus, you know they are all in your head–not the neighbor’s heat pumps for example.
Can’t help you with customizing sounds–not my area of expertise, but maybe somebody reading this can help you.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Dr Neil,
After experiencing post natal anxiety after traumatic birth
I started experiencing a low hum with feeling of vibrating ear in left ear. Would go away if another noise present like talking and when talking stops there’s a split second silence before hum resumes, shaking head makes it go away and it would stay away for 20 mins after being outside or in the shower. If I put fingers in ears or ear plug the noise is gone completely. This was mostly constant (went away for a few hours here and there) for 14 months. During this time I also experience fluttering and thumping and typewriter click noise occasionally. Also my brain would translate white noise as distant muffled music occasionally not always.
I saw an osteopath and started cold showers also stopped taking many vitamins prescribed by Natropath. During this time the noise stopped.
It went away for 10 weeks, during this 10 weeks I had silent days and occasional days where noise was distorted and feeling with I’m holding a glass to my ear.
Suddenly the rumble returns lower pitch than before, harder to mask and no longest disappears with outside and showers. It’s harder to mask but still goes away when talking or shaking head. Ear plugs make it much more quiet but not completely gone like it used to. I experienced one moment of mild dizziness.
I was prescribed antibiotics a couple of times for different things (amoxcillin and ciproflaxin) both times the noise cleared up for a few days then returned. I also had TMJ massage which helped a lot but the noise always resumes a few days later.
I’ve very distraught the noise is back and
More difficult to manage. Any suggestions are much appreciated.
Hi Helena:
You seem to have several conditions–a low rumbling tinnitus with a sense of vibration; the fluttering, thumping and typewriter sounds are manifestations of tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS), and the white noise translated to muffled music is called audio pareidolia.
When you do two or more things at the same time, it is hard to say what worked–i.e. the osteopathic treatments, or stopping the vitamins/supplements. Personally, I doubt the vitamins were the culprits–but it can happen.
When you hear distorted sounds such a hearing in a barrel, this is typically caused by the occlusion effect if your ear canal or Eustachian tube is blocked.
Why things got quiet for 10 weeks then resumed again is what you need to focus on. Did you stop the osteopathic treatments? Did you resume the supplements? Did your anxiety levels go up again?
Not sure why the antibiotics made a difference unless you have a middle ear infection that they zapped temporarily, and then it came back again and the noise resumed.
Are you continuing with the TMJ massage, or does it not help any more?
Have you had your hearing checked–had a complete audiological evaluation by an audiologist? That could show whether you have any problems with your middle ears that are causing some of your problems.
The answers to these questions and any other relevant information may help me figure out what you should do next.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate that.
I have a question, the low rumble as the day goes on sometimes becomes a louder constant hum at around 80hz it can stay for houses or days then return to low rumble. Is this indicative of TTTS? The noise cuts out whenever another noise present and comes back a split second later so when someone is taking its start stop start stop start stop which is extremely distracting, is my muscle trying to protect my ear from the sound or something? Why does finger plugging stop it and ear plugs reduce it, feels like a muscle thing but I’m no expert.
When the T stopped for 10 weeks it was the start of the summer, my stress levels were down and we travelled and I got more sleep (sleep deprivation is an issue being the mum of 3 young kids).
When my tinnitus started back up it was after a couple
Of bad nights sleep and a stressful day, that was 10 days ago, I’ve tested positive for covid yesterday so the tinnitus started 9 days before positive test so not sure if it could be related. Maybe inflammation?
I haven’t been for TMJ massage for a few weeks as we travelled so I will resume that as soon as I can, I’ve also been going back to the osteopath and chiropractor to see if I can get any relief.
I’ve had 2 hearing tests by an audiologist at the hospital and at a hearing clinic, both said I have good hearing and one mentioned that my hearing was very good but missing one or two of the dog whistle tones. This year was a year ago so I’ve booked back in next month.
My doctor won’t refer me to an ENT until I have an MRI which may take months/years and I’ve already had the tinnitus for 18 months.
Any suggestions on what could be causing it would be very helpful, I find understanding it helps me Cope.
Thanks
Hi Helena:
It can be hard to tell where low-rumbling tinnitus ends and TTTS starts–especially if you are feeling the rumbling. If it is just a phantom feeling, then it would be tinnitus, but if it is a real vibration in your ear, then it would be TTTS or some other form of middle ear myoclonus.
It’s not that it’s trying to protect your ear so much as the same reflex has become too sensitive and cuts in at wrong times. So much of this is tied to your level of anxiety. That is why you want to work on calming down.
When you use your fingers to plug your ears and it stops could be because you are activating the same nerves in another way and giving them a real sensations to attend to. Then, when you remove your fingers, they go back to their old tricks from being hypervigilant. Ear plugs may do much like your fingers do but at a lesser level. I’m just guessing here.
When you relax and calm down (and get enough sleep), it lets your nerves be less hypervigilant and so it doesn’t trip the TTTS reflex as much and only with louder sounds. So you basically know what you need to do–as much as is possible with 3 young children.
Your tinnitus/TTTS probably has nothing to do with the Covid, but with the extra anxiety you were experiencing at that time-and testing positive for Covid certainly wouldn’t reduce your anxiety!
I doubt the MRI will show anything because there probably isn’t anything medically wrong with your ears. And the typical ENT doesn’t know much about TTTS and tinnitus, etc. because it is more of a psychological/emotional issue rather than a medical matter.
So what you need to do is calm down and if acupuncture, or massage or chiropractic or whatever works for you, do it. I’d also suggest physical relaxation exercises and relaxing breathing exercises. You can do these breathing exercises almost anywhere and any time.
Cordially,
Neil
Thanks for your insight, other than working on reducing stress and anxiety and getting more sleep is there any other treatment options for TTTS? Would magnesium help relax the muscles?
Thanks your advice has been very helpful
Hi Helena:
If you are low on magnesium, then taking magnesium may help. Try it and see. I’d suggest magnesium threonate as it is the most bioavailable form of magnesium. That is what I take.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello I’ve been experiencing what sounds like a truck sitting outside my bed room and it’s only when I’m not occupied….and lately a sold melody will play but there is not a tv on in the whole house…
Hi Aaliyah:
You are certainly not alone in this experience. The rumble sound is a kind of tinnitus, while the music is due to your experiencing Musical Ear Syndrome.
Neither is anything to worry about, but it can get annoying when you hear these sounds when you don’t want to.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello, I’m wondering if you have any insight into this, I get a low pitch rumble that then ramps up to a constant hum/buzz around 88hz. If I move around or shake my head it stops, if I’m talking or someone else talking it cuts out the tinnitus so it’s very start and stop. Other low pitch noises like a car passing or the tumble dryer completely stop the tinnitus.
Anyway the tinnitus went from being constant to intermittent so I get some mornings and even full days of silence but a strange thing happens… the constant hum/buzz will stop and I hear silence but if I move my head quickly it buzzes, the buzzes are in time with the head movements exactly. So the tinnitus flips from stopping only when I shake my head to buzzing only when I shake my head.
Any idea what is going on?
Hi Helena:
You have some weird tinnitus symptoms. I’m not sure exactly what is going on, but I’ll give you some of my thoughts on what may be happening.
I say you have somatosensory tinnitus–that is, tinnitus that results from non-auditory signals like occurs with your auditory nerve kind of tinnitus. When these nerves send signals to your brain, neurons in the base of your brain mess up and send what was other sensory information (eg. touch, feel) to your auditory processing centers where your auditory system interprets as sounds (your rumbling tinnitus).
When you or someone is talking, your auditory processing center is too busy with real sounds to stop and decode the spurious signals from the somatosensory nerves so you don’t hear this tinnitus.
Other low pitched sounds may block your tinnitus through the mechanism of residual inhibition. What happens is when you hear a real sound that matches your tinnitus in pitch, it temporarily blocks the tinnitus for a few seconds after the real sound stops.
Now that your tinnitus has changed so that moving your head it starts again, this is somatosensory nerves again sending signals to the base of your brain where they are sent to the auditory processing centers of your brain rather than to where they were supposed to go.
For example, some people hear their eyes moving–a zing, zing sound as they look from side to side for example (gaze evoked tinnitus). Other people move their tongue in certain ways and get temporary tinnitus from that. Still others hear tinnitus when they turn their heads from side to side or up and down. Others generate tinnitus when they touch their face near their ears, and so on. All these are the results of somatosensory nerves being activated and the signals sent to the wrong part of the brain for processing.
So while you may have weird tinnitus, you are certainly not alone in these experiences.
Cordially,
Neil
Is there anything you can think of that I could do that may help my brain rewrire itself correctly so it is not sending wonky signals?
I also wanted to ask if this could be related to either a neck injury or stress both of these things happened around the time of onset. I find it difficult to keep track of conversations because of the start stop nature of the tinnitus so if there’s anything you can suggest that may help please let me know, I’ll try anything.
Thanks for responding.
Hi Helena:
Since these funny sounds began soon after a neck injury, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were related. When you have somatosensory tinnitus, typically there are two main causes. One is that certain nerves in your neck/face are hyperactivated (inflamed, pinched, hyper-vigilant, etc). Second, your cervical vertebrae are out of proper alignment thus pinching some nerve fibers so they can’t do their proper jobs.
If I were you, the first thing I’d do is go to an upper cervical chiropractor and make sure your upper cervical spine is all in proper alignment. I’ll bet they are not. Thus my gently pushing them into proper alignment, there is an excellent chance that your problems will go away.
You can find an upper cervical chiropractor at http://www.upcspine.com/ and then press the “Practitioner’s” tab along the top.
Once you know your vertebrae are in proper alignment (and are holding their proper positions–they can slip out easily at the start so you will probably need several treatments), then give the nerves time to calm down (a few weeks), see if that has fixed your problems. If not, then let me know, and we can suggest what else might help.
Cordially,
Neil
I have been seeing a chiropractor for about a year and while I’ve had improvements it hasn’t stuck unfortunately. Any other suggestions would be gratefully accepted.
I also wonder if you can tell me why many mornings I wake up to silence but by the afternoon my tinnitus starts very quietly and ramps up to loud by the evening?
Hi Helena:
Is that an upper cervical chiropractor or a conventional chiropractor? There is a big difference between these two. You NEED to see an upper cervical chiropractor to be sure you are getting the right treatment for you condition.
Answering your second question is easy–at least one cause is easy to answer. What happens is that when you sleep, you take the pressure off your spinal column as your head is on the pillow. This allows the “pinched” nerves in your vertebrae to recover and work properly. Thus, when you get up, you don’t hear your tinnitus.
However, as the day progresses, the weight of your head compresses your spine (discs) and certain nerves get “squished” and thus your tinnitus starts again and stays that way until you lay down and get the pressure off these nerves.
This indicates either your spine is not properly aligned, and/or you have damaged discs in your neck.
Cordially,
Neil
I only tend to hear a semi truck’s low hum when it is in idle outside of my workplace or when I heard it coming up my parent’s long drive as a child. Just heard a semi pull away as its annoying hum had faded away.
Doesn’t help that I also have the ringing in my ears either 🙃
Hi Andrea:
The people that hear the low rumbling of a semi have to check to be sure it is not a phantom sound. If there’s no semi around, then they know it is phantom and their ears are fooling them again. I’ve had to do that many times myself. Now I know when I hear a semi when in the house, it is just phantom sounds (tinnitus).
Cordially,
Neil
I’m hearing low frequency noises from a farm that is a mile away. It actually vibrates in my left ear when they run the farm equipment. I can’t hear the actual equipment unless I go outside but inside my house my ear is heating the vibration and it hurts my ear. My husband can hear the equipment outside but he doesn’t feel the vibration inside like I do. I know something is wrong with my ear because it only does it with that ear. The other ear isn’t bothered. It’s very annoying and my ears get stuffy feeling if I continue to listen to it.
Hi Kelly:
You could be hearing sounds from the farm a mile away, or you could be hearing phantom sounds and feeling phantom vibrations, since phantom low frequency rumbling sounds are often accompanied by the sensation of vibrations.
Another possibility is that you have tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) and your ear drum has gone into spasm and is causing the vibration feeling. This can also result in the stuffy feeling.
I don’t think it is a real sound you are hearing as you cannot hear it in the house and yet you get the vibrating sensation. If it was real, I’d expect you to feel it outside the house but not inside the house, and to hear/feel it in both ears. Since you can’t hear it inside the house and only hear/feel it in one ear I lean towards your having TTTS.
How do you “continue to listen to it”? Either you hear it or you don’t. Another reason I think it is TTTS and/or phantom.
Cordially,
Neil
For several years, a deep, vibrational rhythm wakes me every night. It is like the base part of music played loudly. I get the vibration and the sound. This starts about 2-3 in the morning and wakes me from ambien sleep. It hurts and is making me go crazy. It is like the bass guitar of music. I thought is was my neighbor working out…he sleeps odd hours. The worst part is it sometimes throws me into a migraine and that requires serious medication. It is making me ill because I cannot sleep. It is only at night. I use a sound machine at my head to get back to sleep (ocean waves). This is driving me crazy. I cannot sleep through the night even with the ambien. Help! What can I do??
Hi Jay:
Did this vibration/tinnitus start before you began taking Zolpidem (Ambien) or after? If after, how long after?
I suspect it is related to the Ambien you are taking, hence the above questions.
If this was from before you began the Ambien, then obviously it is not related. Let me know and I’ll see what the next step is.
Cordially,
Neil
Hllo doctor do u think just putting pillow on ear real sound will stop completely..if it not then this is phantom sound..how a sound if it is louder will stop completely by just putting pillow on ear..plz reply in detail abt real and phantom sound
Hi Laxmi:
Putting a pillow over your ears can stop softer real sounds, but you will still likely hear loud real sounds, it’s just that they will be softer. If you have a severe hearing loss like I have, then putting a pillow over your ears will block all real sounds unless they are enormously loud.
Cordially,
Neil
If sound is of moving nature means source of sound is moving ..suppose I close my ear with pillows in my room and vehicle is moving towards if it is coming towards me then evn after putting pillow can’t u think loudness of dat sound will increase
Hi Laxmi:
Yes, of course–if it is a real sound and you can hear it.
Cordially,
Neil
Can science explain rumble sound and The Hmmm sound .Have u heard abt ananht naad ..peopl having good meditation capacity can hear their own heart beat and other sounds too ..Do u think they all have Tinnitus.If someone recall anybody sound in my mind do u think all have
audio paradioa
Hi Laxmi:
As far as I’m concerned, rumbling sounds and humming sounds are just two of the many tinnitus sounds that occur when the auditory circuits in your brain get hyperstimulated.
Hearing your own heartbeat and other body sounds (called somatosounds) is not unusual if you have normal hearing. However, what your brain does is habituate to these sounds (and thus tunes them out so you are typically not even aware of them even though you can hear them if you listen for them).
You automatically do this with most sounds you hear that are unimportant to you, otherwise your brain would be overloaded trying to process them all.
Body sounds are NOT tinnitus sounds although we still call hearing your heartbeat “pulsatile tinnitus” but it is not tinnitus at all.
If you are recalling sounds from your memory, these are just memories–you are not “hearing” them as such.
Audio pareidolia is where you actually hear real sounds, but your brain gives you the illusion they are a different sound than what they really are.
Sounds that go round and round in your head, we call “ear worms”. They are neither audio pareidolia sounds nor Musical Ear Syndrome sounds.
Cordially,
Neil
What is d criteria to check whether the person is having tinnitus or not ??
Hi Laxmi:
Basically, they hear non-psychiatric unmodulated, simple sounds no one else can hear because they are phantom. If the sounds are modulated, complex, phantom sounds, then they are hearing Musical Ear Syndrome sounds.
Cordially,
Neil
Thnku for reply ..can real sound produce vibration in body??
About a month ago, I started hearing a sound in my right ear, like if you put your hand on a big speaker and the bass was too loud. I also feel the vibration. It seems to be only in my right ear. I do not have any pain associated with it. My ex husband clocked me in the face when we were married and my right ear was hit dead on with his fist. Yet, I only have had this sound/vibration for the past month. (we were divorced in 1980). Could this be what you are speaking of?
Hi Kristi:
What caused this sound/vibration? Any ideas? What changed in your life back then? What was different? Did you begin taking any medications or change the dose on existing ones? Answers to these questions help me figure out what is going on with your ear.
I don’t really think getting hit in the ear more than 40 years ago has anything to do with what you are experiencing now. I think you are likely experiencing either tinnitus or Musical Ear Syndrome or both.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you Neil! It has only been happening for about a month or two. I remember having some headphones on and when I took them off the right ear had a ring it had not had before. It was strange but not painful.
Around the same time (not sure of what came first) I started hearing a vibration…kind of like if a car was outside and had its speakers up really loud where you hear a vibration from them even if you are in the house.
I do feel the vibration as well. More in my head than my entire body.
Nothing has really changed. No new medications. I did lower my metformin to 500 mg twice a day (from 1000 twice a day) several months ago.
At first I thought it was a surge or vibration from something electrical. I spoke with my landlord and he assured me that could not be the case. While we were talking, I heard it again and said, there it is!! He looked at me like I was nuts 🙂 He said, um, I think it is in your head.
And here I am 🙂 Thank you in advance for any help you can give.
Sincerely with gratitude,
Kristi
Hi Kristi:
I haven’t come up with a definitive cause for these rumbling sounds/vibrations. I just put them down to one of the various kinds of tinnitus sounds, but with the vibrations added. But these same vibration feelings can occur in conjunction with Musical Ear Syndrome sounds. In that case, instead of hearing rumbling sounds, you hear music and the vibrations vary in unison with the bass in the phantom music.
In any case, as near as I can tell, they are benign and nothing to worry about once you realize what they are. I experience the same thing from time to time myself. I’ve never found a reason for hearing/feeling these sensations. Sometimes it occurs when I am at home sitting at my desk. Other times I’m in my car in a parking lot waiting for my wife.
Therefore, when you experience these sensations, just accept them as your brain fooling you and basically ignore them and focus on or do something else and in my experience at least, they soon disappear.
And one more thing. I should have said this earlier, but you may find that this more commonly occurs when you are tired and need some sleep, or after awakening from a nap during the day while you are still tired. Thus, getting enough sleep at night may be all that you need to do.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you! That makes a lot of sense!! My sleep patterns are not even patterns. I have very sketchy patterns. I will work on that!! I do so appreciate your time and information. thank you!
Sounds can very well be noisy neighbors not your ears only. I get woke up every morning between 1 and 4 to a vibration sound. I am in a single family home. I have watched what is going on in the neighborhood to see what is waking me up and found my neighbor is doing something sneaky in his metal garage at odd hours. When he leaves at 5 or 6 AM the noise stops. A new car comes to his house and 10 minutes later it starts again. Not sure what he is doing that would be legal.
Hi Julie:
When you hear this vibration sound, if you plug your ears (press on the tragus to close your ear canals), does the sound lessen in volume or disappear, and reappear or become louder when you take your fingers off your tragus. If so, you know it is a real sound. If not, then it is a phantom sound. That’s the first thing you need to try because you can’t guarantee the sounds/vibrations are real without doing this simple test. Your brain can really fool you at times.
If you determine that these sounds/vibrations are real, then you should ask you other neighbors if they also hear/feel these vibrations. If so, that’s another clue that the sounds are real. At that point you have to wonder exactly what is going on in your neighbors garage during the night.
If it is so loud that it is disturbing your other neighbors as well as you, you could call the police and have them investigate–maybe they are violating a nuisance noise bylaw–or doing something worse.
Cordially,
Neil