Is It Tinnitus? Low Hum — I'm Very Worried

[Kriszti]

Thank you, TheDanishGirl. I'll give it a try.

This humming is indeed very strange. I have successfully worked myself up by reading a lot about unilateral buzzing's correlation to Meniere's. But I guess that if it can be stopped, maybe there is something more trivial behind this kind of tinnitus. Maybe I just imagine it and I'm really very bad at anatomy, but when I put my finger in the buzzing ear, I can feel some thumping as well, so perhaps it's a muscular thing?

 

[Juan]

Thank you, TheDanishGirl. I'll give it a try.

This humming is indeed very strange. I have successfully worked myself up by reading a lot about unilateral buzzing's correlation to Meniere's. But I guess that if it can be stopped, maybe there is something more trivial behind this kind of tinnitus. Maybe I just imagine it and I'm really very bad at anatomy, but when I put my finger in the buzzing ear, I can feel some thumping as well, so perhaps it's a muscular thing?

Meniere has to do with hearing loss and vertigo.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

I have the evil hum/drone...since 2014. 24/7, none stop... loud. If I cover my ears with my hands it stops. If I have other low humming appliances running in the background it stops....I hear it indoors and outdoors equally.

I can't speak for others but I know that the hum I have is not regular tinnitus. It functions and expresses itself independently from it. It's a mechanical issue going on caused by the middle ear muscles and as such things such as ETs and trigeminal nerves are in play too due to the fact muscles like the tensor tympani are involved with ET ventilation and is innervated by the trigeminal nerve.

My theory is that these muscles and nerves become hypersensitive after noise exposures/acoustic shocks, get irritated, become in an almost constant state of readiness to protect the ear against noise, that it becomes essentially ingrained/hardwired into the autonomic nervous system. So there might be some dysfunctional nerve impulses to the tensor tympani and it becomes the default functioning. I've come to this idea based on my own personal experiences and observations.

So, you think that cutting the tensor tympani may stop the humming?

 

[Kriszti]

Meniere has to do with hearing loss and vertigo.

Yes, I know, but having read this forum, there are quite some people here who ended up a Meniere diagnosis or early stages of MD without the vertigo and hearing loss. I'm probably panicking due to the T and the severe lack of sleep.

 

[Juan]

Yes, I know, but having read this forum, there are quite some people here who ended up a Meniere diagnosis or early stages of MD without the vertigo and hearing loss. I'm probably panicking due to the T and the severe lack of sleep.

A vertigo attack is very obvious, and very scary, it is not like a faint dizziness

 

[shasta0863]

I have the evil hum/drone...since 2014. 24/7, none stop... loud. If I cover my ears with my hands it stops. If I have other low humming appliances running in the background it stops....I hear it indoors and outdoors equally.


So, you think that cutting the tensor tympani may stop the humming?

Any idea what caused it? Did it come upon suddenly, and come and go and then moved to more 24/7?






Mine was somehow triggered from intense crying/sadness after my grandfather died. Happened the morning after, awoke to it slightly there. It stopped then I used new earplugs called Decibulz, took them out after a few minutes and it was raging.

It's triggered from driving (only hear it when I turn car off after driving), laying on the bad ear, laying down for hours in general, and I believe stress/being upset. I've noticed my other ear also started doing weird spasms, but different and not as frequent, combined with spasms in random areas of my body since this started.

I also feel inside the ear, a deep tightening sensation and even slight soreness associated with this condition.

This to me, suggest some type of nerve issue that is triggering this condition. I don't know how or why its possible, but it seems to be the only thing.

I felt most of September and start of October I would get half a day without it, but it's recently been worse, and I can't even go to bed without it being 100% gone. I had some huge stress and family problems prior to my progress being lost, so I'm certain it's contributing.

My mental health is horrible, and in turn I think (outside physically activating by laying on the ear or vibration of a car drive) it's causing some type of constant loop.

Lightly talking stops it, lightly shaking the head. External noise like tapping something stops it until the second I stop.

Clearly it's mechanical, but the mechanical aspect isn't the root cause I think, perhaps it's the nerves nearby and my mental state that has caused this constant feedback loop of stress-->nerve activates spasms--->stressed and upset about spasms because it's so uncomfortable-->stress and so on.

Or perhaps, its bruised. I've always had sensitive ears and ETD issues. Perhaps the intense crying and sobbing which I've never done like that before, bruised something in the ear and activated the muscle to constantly wind up.

It's hard to know. I refuse to do surgery, as these muscles are supposedly important, dampens loud sounds, your chewing. Some have said cutting both won't cause a problem but I'm too scared. I have bad T and H from noise, how can I chance an invasive surgery which would make the T/H worse.

Every night I pray and wish that this will be the last day. To just give me another year without it before starting again.

I don't know why it stops sometimes, but I do know rubbing the ear/jaw will activate it, wearing earplugs makes it worse, getting upset makes it worse, driving (the vibration) and similar type of things that create intense low frequency rumbling if it's loud can aggravate it.

 

[Gman]

I have the evil hum/drone...since 2014. 24/7, none stop... loud. If I cover my ears with my hands it stops. If I have other low humming appliances running in the background it stops....I hear it indoors and outdoors equally.


So, you think that cutting the tensor tympani may stop the humming?

No idea, sorry. It sucks that it's so under researched / no one has a clue or cares about it as a condition.

 

[Mister Muso]

I have two low frequency hums that I hear when it's quiet, loud high frequency ringing/hissing that I hear 98% of the time, and middle tones that multiply when I turn over in bed. Trust me when I say the low humming is the least of my worries.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

Trust me when I say the low humming is the least of my worries.

Interesting. The low hum is very loud and disturbing to me. It engulfs my whole head like if I'm inside a wind tunnel and I can hear it all day not just at bed time.

 

[Capstan]

I have two low frequency hums that I hear when it's quiet, loud high frequency ringing/hissing that I hear 98% of the time, and middle tones that multiply when I turn over in bed. Trust me when I say the low humming is the least of my worries.

My tinnitus is louder in bed and dependent on position too. Any ideas why this happens?

 

[Mister Muso]

My tinnitus is louder in bed and dependent on position too. Any ideas why this happens?

If it's your low tones, there may be a physical cause, but my tones are all noise induced. My middle tones are amplified by any movement, and the effect intensifies as the night goes on. I use herbal Kalms or Nytol to get me through it, and sometimes masking.

 

[Kido]

Hello,

after searching my symptoms on google I found this topic. My tinnitus is very similar: it is a low hum, unilateral (right ear), I can stop it with my finger in my ear, and my position can modulate it when I'm in my bed.

I have it for 3 years now. I've seen an ENT, my hearing is perfect, I did an MRI, everything is fine too. What I've observed is that my tinnitus is very linked to my muscle tensions and posture. I've stopped sleeping on my side (only on my back), and I've started doing stretches, and it improved a little. For the first year, it was constant, now I have it only when lying in my bed and when I'm working on my chair. If I listen to low sound (heavy rain on YouTube for example), I don't have it, so I can work on my desk and sleep, but it still wakes me up sometimes at night and it is hard for me to focus on my work.

I had an orthodontic treatment. My tinnitus started 3 months after removing my braces. I've seen a stomatologist, He thinks I have a slight form of TMJ. He gave me a splint for the jaw, it changed nothing.

It is maybe linked, I don't know. When I clench my jaw, or when I'm stressed, I haw a slight high pitch tinnitus, which doesn't bother me, but it seems that it doesn't influence my low tinnitus.

For now I think it is caused by anxiety, a poor posture habit, and muscle tension, as it has improved a little when I tried to fix those issues. Last summer, after buying a memory foam pillow, my tinnitus disappeared totally during 2 weeks, but it reappeared slowly.

(Sorry if I made English mistakes, it is not my first language)

 

[FGG]

Hello,

after searching my symptoms on google I found this topic. My tinnitus is very similar: it is a low hum, unilateral (right ear), I can stop it with my finger in my ear, and my position can modulate it when I'm in my bed.

I have it for 3 years now. I've seen an ENT, my hearing is perfect, I did an MRI, everything is fine too. What I've observed is that my tinnitus is very linked to my muscle tensions and posture. I've stopped sleeping on my side (only on my back), and I've started doing stretches, and it improved a little. For the first year, it was constant, now I have it only when lying in my bed and when I'm working on my chair. If I listen to low sound (heavy rain on YouTube for example), I don't have it, so I can work on my desk and sleep, but it still wakes me up sometimes at night and it is hard for me to focus on my work.

I had an orthodontic treatment. My tinnitus started 3 months after removing my braces. I've seen a stomatologist, He thinks I have a slight form of TMJ. He gave me a splint for the jaw, it changed nothing.

It is maybe linked, I don't know. When I clench my jaw, or when I'm stressed, I haw a slight high pitch tinnitus, which doesn't bother me, but it seems that it doesn't influence my low tinnitus.

For now I think it is caused by anxiety, a poor posture habit, and muscle tension, as it has improved a little when I tried to fix those issues. Last summer, after buying a memory foam pillow, my tinnitus disappeared totally during 2 weeks, but it reappeared slowly.

(Sorry if I made English mistakes, it is not my first language)

Have you explained this to a physical therapist? A good one should be able to help with cervical neck issues and it definitely sounds like yours are linked.

 

[FGG]

Interesting. The low hum is very loud and disturbing to me. It engulfs my whole head like if I'm inside a wind tunnel and I can hear it all day not just at bed time.

Have you had a really extensive work up? It seems like low frequency tinnitus isn't very likely to be from noise induced in general compared to high frequency tinnitus and often has reasons like: hydrops, TMJ, cervical issues, etc.

 

[Kido]

Have you explained this to a physical therapist? A good one should be able to help with cervical neck issues and it definitely sounds like yours are linked.

Hello. Yes I've seen twice a sport physician who is also an osteopath. After the consultation my tinnitus worsened, so the good news is that it seems to be neck/muscular related but the bad one is that I don't know how to fix this. I've tried to wear a neck collar, and to do exercises for my neck but it changes nothing. My ENT prescribed me an MRI angiography to be sure it is not a blood issue, but I'm pretty sure it's not the case.

 

[FGG]

Hello. Yes I've seen twice a sport physician who is also an osteopath. After the consultation my tinnitus worsened, so the good news is that it seems to be neck/muscular related but the bad one is that I don't know how to fix this. I've tried to wear a neck collar, and to do exercises for my neck but it changes nothing. My ENT prescribed me an MRI angiography to be sure it is not a blood issue, but I'm pretty sure it's not the case.

What is specifically the problem? Laxity?

 

[Kido]

What is specifically the problem? Laxity?

I don't think it is laxity but I forgot, the radiologist mentioned that I had a general hyperpneumatization of my neck and head, I've found one study linking tinnitus and this hyperpneumatization.(https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=jgr)

 

[FGG]

I don't think it is laxity but I forgot, the radiologist mentioned that I had a general hyperpneumatization of my neck and head, I've found one study linking tinnitus and this hyperpneumatization.(https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=jgr)

Wow. This is apparently super rare. From a brief literature search, the only treatment I was able to find discussed was treating ETD which is apparently an underlying cause. Or if it was post trauma (e.g. tonsillectomy), possible repeat surgery. Is there a specialist for this condition you could see?

 

[OnceUponaTime]

Have you had a really extensive work up? It seems like low frequency tinnitus isn't very likely to be from noise induced in general compared to high frequency tinnitus and often has reasons like: hydrops, TMJ, cervical issues, etc.

I have not checked for TMJ or Hydrops. Interestingly, 2 years ago I was stretching my neck and pulled something which sent the hum through the roof for months and months... I had xrays done by a chiropractor who said something on my neck was not aligned?? Something like that, can't remember. Anyways, he wanted to give me a few adjustments but I didnt do it.

I also have hiss and high pitch EEEEEE. Ughhhhh.

 

[Kido]

Wow. This is apparently super rare. From a brief literature search, the only treatment I was able to find discussed was treating ETD which is apparently an underlying cause. Or if it was post trauma (e.g. tonsillectomy), possible repeat surgery. Is there a specialist for this condition you could see?

Thank you! It wasn't post trauma. I've talked about ETD and hyperpneumatization to my ent but he didn't know, he gave me the number of a specialised ent in tinnitus. I will take an appointment, but it will takes months before having an answer. "Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) can cause dulled hearing and a feeling of pressure or fullness in the affected ear" --> I often have this feeling of fullness, and a sensation of liquid in my right hear...

It seems that the current symptomology of hyperpneumatization includes headache, neck pain, tinnitus and rhinite, and those are exactly my symptoms
(Massmann A. Garcia P. 2012. Atypical Extensive Extratemporal Hyperpneumatization of the Skull Base Including the Cervical Spine. Spine. Vol 37. N° 3. pp E199–E202. Doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182283102)
And apparently, it mostly appears unilaterally in men and on the right side.
here is a great summary but it is in french (http://osteoetsciences.over-blog.co...ans-le-crane-la-pneumatisation-cranienne.html)

What is complicated is the multifactorial aspect of it : maybe I have tmj, maybe it is just muscle related because of anxiety, or maybe it is this hyperpneumatization I will try to learn more about ETD.
Also, three years ago, I had this strange experience, my tinnitus went really loud on my right ear (I was in class and couldn't hear what the teacher was saying), I had vertigo and a sensation of heat in my hear, I went to my attending physician who gave me anti-inflammatory I think. The problem is I don't remember if it was what triggered my tinnitus of if I had it before...

 

[Pink Noise]

Firstly, hello, as this is my first post.

Secondly, I am very worried by some symptoms I currently have and after reading the forum I decided to join.

At present I am suffering from a low hum in my left ear. It is as if someone has left a car running outside. The strange thing is that when I close this ear off I cannot hear the hum.

A week and a half ago I started to suffer a feeling of feeling of fullness in my left ear and sound was muffled. I went to the doctors and straight away I was told it was impacted ear wax.

I was told to use olive oil drops for a week and go in to have my ears irrigated. I did the olive oil drops for about four days and noticed a low hum after day four. I got some Otex ear drops to help shift some of the was before my irrigation as it felt so uncomfortable. I only used these drops for two days and continued to use the olive oil.

The hum when away and on Monday I had my ears clean. A nice big bit of wax came out and things felt much better. The next day the ear felt muffled again and I went back but the doctor said all looked fine.

Now for the last three days I have this low hum in my left hear but also feels like it's in my head. I've turned the electric supply off and nothing seems to rid me of it except closing the ear off or putting headphones on with music playing.

Does anyone relate to this? Do think it's tinnitus? My wife says she hears a low hum but now as loud as me which maybe thinks maybe my ears are too clean now and clear. I have also noticed that the ear is picking up less bass than my right when listening to music.

I have a hearing test booked for this Monday but I'm in a state of despair right now and having very dark thoughts and really need some advice etc.

I also suffer from anxiety and have been very stressed lately and wondered as have read online that anxiety can cause a buzzing in your head.

Sorry for such a long post but I needed to get this off my chest.

I have exactly the same problem. With the same symptoms. If I close ear off hum goes away. If i put earplugs in hum goes away. Ear defenders .. the same.

 

[star-affinity]

I listen to this track when I have the hum and it stops it completely! Every now and then it also has a lasting effect, after listening to it for a couple of hours which is a relief. Maybe it could help you too:

Wow, with that noise I can consistently "turn on and off" the sensation of the hum in my head.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Leila]

I've never read any scientific paper showing causality between stress and tinnitus.

I've never come across one either, yet, it is the first question my ENT asks me whenever I go and see him. I guess it's a comfortable assumption since, in the world that we live in, stress pretty much is a one fits all symptom and there isn't much when it comes to treatment and / or relief to be offered to tinnitus sufferers.

A bit like when seeing your GP for something you can't quite pinpoint and they'll tell you, you're overweight, lose some weight and come back in half a year. So you lose some weight and come back half a year later with the same symptoms only to be told, you're a smoker, quit smoking and come back in half a year. So you quit smoking and half a year later you're back again with the same symptoms only to then be told to quit the glass of wine you're having in the evenings and come back in half a year. If this hasn't cured or the time delay hasn't made your symptoms bad enough to be visible to the naked eye by then, their next guess will be: stress! And with this diagnosis you find yourself in the realm of mental illness with its vast and fertile fields...