Random Thumping in Ears When Exposed to Low Frequency Sounds

[Kates]

Hi! I've had this problem for quite sometime and have not found a similar story. I have always had ringing in my ears - I thought this was normal until I mentioned it to a friend in my 20s. Thus, it doesn't really bother me because I know no other.

During my mid 20s I started experiencing this random thumping in my ears - not to the sound of my heart; goes fast, then slow, kind of like a rotary phone. It's in both ears but mostly my left. It only happens with low frequencies - low hum of a computer, heat traveling through pipes, a clothes dryer, fan, refrigerator, echos in a small room (bathroom), etc.

It's very annoying, causing great anxiety and sometimes resulting in many tears. If the hum/sound stops, the thumping stops within a few seconds. I can also sometimes tilt my head away from the direction of the sound and it will go away (often this is a very uncomfortable tilt).

But sometimes the sound is all around and there's no escaping until it stops. I have trouble sleeping at night because of this.

I have been to an ENT and had full testing. My hearing is above average for my age. He basically said it was all in my head and I'm fine. Well I'm not!

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Is there anyway to find a really really good specialist to help me? I'm less than an hour from NYC, there must be someone there. Thanks!
-Kate

 

[Contrast]

How did the hearing test go, did they test for speech in background noise? Did they test above 8 kHz? Music in background noise? Or was the entire test in a totally silent room with only tones and speech?

He basically said it was all in my head and I'm fine.

Historically that has been medically ignorant thing to say, as science advances the statement "It's all in your head" actually shows a total lack of what one should expect from a medical professional. Also it's very unkind.

Do you have sensitive hearing such as things sounding too loud, or noise induced pain?
It's odd you were born with tinnitus though.

 

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https://www.everydayhearing.com/tonic-tensor-tympani-syndrome/

Look at this. Middle ear muscle spasms.

 

[Kates]

It was a Silent room with noise in headphones. I don't remember what Hz they went to. I don't remember a time where there wasn't ringing in my ears. The only sensitivity I have to sounds is if someone is listening to a tv really loud - gives me anxiety. Or if I'm a passenger in a car and the music is too loud, but if I'm the driver I can blast the music with no anxiety. There never is pain; just discomfort and annoyance.

I really don't think it's TTTS. None of what I read seems to fit with what I experience. It's just the low hum sounds. And it's only if my ear is positioned in a way that is directed towards it. I'll be fine, then I move to another part of the room and Boom, it starts.

But sometimes I can't avoid the noise. Sometimes I don't even realize there is a sound and it starts. Thanks for the response!

Would you think it's better to start with an audiologist and then be referred to a
Specialist rather than start at an ENT?

 

[Contrast]

It was a Silent room with noise in headphones. I don't remember what Hz they went to.

Thank you for this info, the standard is usually 8 kHz and it isn't accurate at all.

The only sensitivity I have to sounds is if someone is listening to a tv really loud - gives me anxiety. Or if I'm a passenger in a car and the music is too loud, but if I'm the driver I can blast the music with no anxiety.

Okay! great news! you don't have any sign of hyperacusis or noise induced pain but be careful with very loud music in the car might wanna lower the volume from now on.

I really don't think it's TTTS

I don't know what you have, but I do not believe it's all in your head. view a specialist at your own discretion and budget.

-------- About hearing test that fail to show hearing loss in background noise.

Recent research indicates that hearing test used at most audiology clinics and ENTs are heavily inaccurate, they only test for hearing loss within the human voice range, hearing loss outside of the human voice range can still cause damage to the inner ear learn more here about "hidden hearing loss here"

http://hyperacusisfocus.org/innerear/

cochlear hair cells losing nervous tissue called "ribbon synapses" is the primary concern as it causes difficulty hearing speech in noise, or enjoying music.

Raw research papers cited below
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378595516302507

 

[RingerBell]

@Kates
I also have thumping in my other ear when I´m exposed to certain low frequency sounds. I also have low frequency T. I haven´t really figured out whats causing this thumping for me, as I can think many reasons for it like: TTS, pulsatile T beating with external sound, neck tension, hearing loss (sudden change in hearing as the frequency changes, recruitment, etc..) or just that the external sound matches with T frequency.

 

[Nina Martinus]

Hi,
Thank you for posting this. It's not severe but I have been having random 'throbbing' or 'thumping' sounds that sort of feel like an 'internal spasm' in my left ear as long as I can remember. It tends to happen with my father's really low voice, randomly with other low voices and other times I can't understand. Right now it is happening with what I can only assume is the air conditioner at my work, which is why I have googled it now. I tend to physically block my ear and try to ignore it until it goes away or turn off the tv or whatever is causing it. I haven't seen any doctors about it because it doesn't interfere with my life that much or often, it's so hard to describe and I haven't been able to find anything on the internet that matches it at all until now. It is extremely irritating though! I grew up in a very noisy house with my dad welding in the garage and my musician brothers playing the drums and trombone in the next room up so I've always assumed something got damaged back then. When I've had a hearing test in the past - those ones without background noise - it was fine but I've noticed that I do seem to have a little bit of trouble when there is background noise compared to other people. Thank you for making me feel like I'm not the only one!

 

[Živko Černev]

Hello everyone,

For several months now I've been having random thumps in my right ear not corresponding to my heartbeat when I am exposed to low frequencies between 20 Hz and 80 Hz most strongly felt at 45 Hz. I feel the thumps more like spasms rather than sounds. When I stop the sound source the thumping stops as well. I can see that other people describe similar symptoms and I am aware that this could be caused by a variety of reasons, that's why I would be happy if you guys could share your experience and what specialists you visited. Unfortunately any recommendations of doctors in the USA won't work for me, as I am from Europe/Bulgaria. Thank you all and have a nice evening/day!

 

[MrCrybaby]

@Živko Černev

Hi, this sounds like tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS). TTTS is when the tensor tympani muscle (a muscle in your middle ear which pulls the eardrum tight to reduce the volume of loud noises) is overactive in response to sound, creating a thumping or popping noise in the ear and potentially causing pain in the ear and face. You can see an ENT to rule out other causes, but not much can be done about overactive ear muscles. Sound therapy to desensitize the response has been used with some success to treat TTTS, but it is not a silver bullet.

Good luck!

 

[Živko Černev]

@MrCrybaby

Hi,

thank you so much for your response!

It totally makes sense. I've read it is often caused by anxiety. Having in mind that I constantly chew on my fingers and lips I think this is a plausible cause of my problem. I hope if I work on my stress levels, that could help.

Best regards!