humming noise

LegacyUser

Hi, I've been hearing a humming noise for a number of years now.
Especially at night. I've moved twice but in the same area and the place I'm in now is worse. I've switched everything off and still hear it. It sounds like a machine going in the background but I only hear it in the house. I use earplugs but they're not working. It's like the sound is vibrating through me. When I open the window the noise stops, but I can't sleep with my head out the window. I was wondering could it be underground wires or some underground electric current. My partner can't hear this noise.

Ickle Magoo

I've given you your own thread so you aren't bumping someone else's thread that is years old.

/mod hat

Have you been to the doctors to rule out any kind of medical or hearing issue?

Kadongy

It might be this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hum

Or it might be tinnitus. It's possible that other noise from outside distracts you from it when you open the window.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

white noise might help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_noise

ElleEm

Go to the docs to get it checked first.

But sometimes I notice if I leave something plugged in but not in use, it makes a humming sound. My boyf never noticed it. Unplug everything in your bedroom and see if it helps.

LegacyUser

GOD this exact thing happens to me also. Also usually at night and varies in strength, some nights I cannot sleep with it. I used to think it was traffic from somewhere but upon moving have ruled this out. I am a very spiritual person and often wondered if it was something to do with this, although the 'hum' seems more plausible. Very interested in hearing other people's thoughts on this.

Silverfish

I have that in my house.
After a year of wondering what the hell was going on, it turned out it was our fridge vibrating, and as it's got wooden presses surrounding it, and wood conducts noise - and sound is louder at night - the noise was extremely audible in the bedroom (also has wooden floors).

robman60

If you're sure it isn't a household appliance, you should visit a doctor. My old neighbour had tinnitus, and this sounds similar to that. Although it can't be cured (AFAIK) coping mechanisms can be employed.

Taltos

Again - see a doc.

In my case I grind my teeth - stress related - so tightly my jaw muscles are knots some mornings, to an extend that I was damaging myself - like you I was hearing a noise, drove me crazy, was not sleeping and strangely that made it worse. Eventually I went to a doc for a sore ear and they sent me to a dental specialist who helped me with this. But really it could be any number of things - so many that we could guess until the cows come home.

Do the usual - eliminate machines / appliances - fridges, tv's, modems etc.
And if still there go see a doc.

The specialist listed things that I thought were totally off the wall - but he was right in every single example he gave...

JerryHandbag

I used to get this....to me it sounded like a lorry up the road that had its engine idling, I would always think "Is he ever gonna drive away??!!"....until I realised it was the hum in my own ears

I listen to a lot of music on earphones so thats what I put it down to....got my ears checked and cleared out by the doc a few years ago, dont get the hum anymore.

Hank_Jones

Would have thought the fridge myself.

If I was in your position, I would turn off all appliances etc and see if that does anything.

Otherwise, consult your doctor.

shinikins

OP, do you charge your mobile in the bedroom? I'm driven mad by phone chargers at night, but my OH can't hear it at all, and thinks I'm mad! I've had a few different brands over the past while and each has a different tone, so i'm somewhat of an expert now Another thing that hums are alarm clocks, especially the type that have a light up display. Low energy bulbs can hum too.

ongarboy

OP, I suffer from tinnitus and from what you describe, it sounds very similar to my condition. However, first I would recommend you asking someone else can they hear the noise during when you notice it just to confirm that it is not indeed a fridge/boiler or neighbour's appliance etc causing it.

If only you can hear it then, then go to the doctor. Sometimes, getting your ears syringed if there is a build up of hard wax may remedy the issue. If you are diagnosed with tinnitus, then as another poster says, there are coping mechanisms that you can employ to enable you to live with a normal quality of life. (it is just a psychological condition - when it was first diagnosed for me, I thought I would go mental as all I could do was focus on the noise and nothing else so it overwhelmed me. I've since learned to ignore it and only hear it now when I pay attention to it - can go for weeks without even thinking about it.)

Go to the doctor once others confirm they cannot hear the noise so that they can assist with an appropriate diagnosis/assistance for you.

mw3guc

Like everyone has said, a trip to the doctor is in order but to me it does 'sound' like tinnitus (no pun intended). Key things that seem to back this up are that you've moved twice and that you can still hear it even with ear plugs in.

Having said all that, there is just one other 'maybe' that you might try - do you have a plug-in mouse deterrant - the kind that vibrates/travels through the electricity wires? It's only supposed to be heard by mice and insects. We invested in one of these a few years ago to discover that our visiting teenaged/adult offspring could hear a maddening hum that neither of us could hear. The first thing they do now is plug it out when they arrive.

If I'd known how effective it was on these human 'pests' I would have bought one years ago for every socket in the house and glued them in :pac: