Anyone else hear ‘the hum’?

[Hyperfish101]

I didn’t realise this was a thing but apparently around 2% of the population can hear a low background humming noise. I am one of them. It’s like a car idling in the background. It’s driving me mad!

I can hear it, and have done for years, at several locations.
It isn't constant but seems to start and stop after a few days or weeks, until the next time.
DH can't hear it.

Yes not constantly, usually when it's quiet. It's external, not tinitus I get that too occasionally.
I always assumed it was the electricity, I do go round unplugging things when it's annoying me but it doesn't help so who knows.

Now I've read this thread I can hear a hum in my head and have in the past. It's normally tuned out though.

Isn't it just blood pressure or something?

My dp can hear this. It is 100% not tinnitus as it is external. A couple of years we moved from a very central part of London to a quieter part of London. DP started to hear it. It's like a low pulsating throbbing. He can't hear it every night. I can occasionally hear it. When ever we stay somewhere else such as on holiday, he can never hear it. There's been discussion on our local fb group about it, with speculation about the cause.

I have heard the hum when walking at night, assumed it was all the old streetlights.

I've recently been hearing it: only at night, and when my head is on the pillow. I still hear it with earplugs. I've prowled the house inside and out to try to locate it, but in vain.

I heard it constantly as a child. My parents said it was a local factory, but it closed down and I could still hear it. They didn’t believe me. I have tinnitus now so I can’t hear anything but ringing in my ears, but I didn’t know the hum was a thing until I got older. There are videos on youtube where it’s constant in some countries and loud enough to record. It’s fascinating.

I thought it was a Bristol thing? www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35344544

I can hear it in the city, but not where I now live, I think it was the cables or something. Luckily the traffic is louder than the noise!

I am relieved it’s not just me! I think I will be playing white noise for distraction from now on.

Yes, I have heard 'the hum' for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it just suddenly stops and gradually builds up again. Even when living in a tiny village and going outside into utter silence it was often there - no cars, no street lights etc to indicate an 'electricity sound', just complete blackness where you need a torch to see your own hands and feet - it's still there. I think some scientists believe the universe hums, maybe some people can feel\hear it.

It might be why I like the television on in the background even when not actively watching it as it helps mask the hum.

I can hear it if the winds in the right direction. I’ve always thought it’s the motorway. I also have tinnitus but it isn’t that.

Yup, I have tinnitus AND hear the hum. They're very different. There's a (genuine) website pulled together by an intrigued guy who's trying to map it. It's not a conspiracy site.

I've often wondered if it's related to the fact I can hear electrical noises too eg if I walk into room of monitors out of office hours, I can tell if one has been left on as it emits a noise most others can't hear.

It's definitely much worse in some buildings than others.

Yes I can hear it, I live rurally and think mine may be something from grain dryers (harvest time) . It started about four weeks ago, and hasn't stopped yet, worse at night because there is less ambient noise. I use an app called Calm, there are several different options on there including rain noise et cetera. It works a dream and I am sleeping better because of it in general. It's definitely a thing, and it's not tinitus.

I definitely hear a hum.

Not all the time, and I need to see if I can hear it outdoors, because if indoors that would suggest I'm picking up an electrical noise.

I know that right now, I can hear the freezer, but it's not quite the sound I hear when I'm trying to sleep. It's not tinnitus, that's different. And I can't hear the freezer in bed. Kitchen is at the back of the house whereas I'm sleeping upstairs at the front of the house.

I am partly deaf, though. I hear a hum with or without aids. It's weird.

There's a phenomenon known as the Bristol hum. When I lived there I could hear it.

People on my local FB page (Essex) we’re discussing a weird humming/whining noise. I occasionally hear it too. It’s definitely not tinnitus (I have that and know what it sounds like) and it was definitely coming from somewhere in the distance. Usually at night but sometimes in the day. Even my husband commented on it the last time it happened. What IS it?

@letsgomaths

I've recently been hearing it: only at night, and when my head is on the pillow. I still hear it with earplugs. I've prowled the house inside and out to try to locate it, but in vain.

Yes, same here!!!!

It’s like someone’s got a tumble dryer or a washing machine going on another floor of the house, but there isn’t actually. Only at night when my head’s on my pillow. Only noticeable since lockdown I think? Could be wrong.

@Clutterista do you have link please?

I would advise anyone who has this to get their blood pressure checked. I had this , DH couldn't hear it. Had a Dr appt (for another reason) and was diagnosed with high BP and medicated. After about a week on meds, not a peep, still hasn't returned, years later. It's the internal sound of high pressure blood, especially if ear plugs won't keep it out.

Someone has posted about this very issue tonight on my local Nextdoor app!

My husband can hear it. It started fairly suddenly and he thought it was somebody operating agricultural machinery nearby during the night. It nearly drove him mad at first and he was determined to find the source. He never did and just accepts it now. His blood pressure is healthy.

It isn't in his head as it is location dependent. He doesn't hear it everywhere.

My husband can hear it. I cant but he says it isn't all the time and like @Bwlch husband he doesn't hear it everywhere.

He was quite relieved to read that other people can hear it to!

I can hear when phones are completely charged, its a high pitched whine. (Unrelated useless fact).

Sonic boom?

So funnily enough I can hear it in bed now... it sounds exactly like a low hum but it’s quite loud, we’re very rural and always assumed it was the wind but it’s a still night.

Strangely it disappears momentarily if I move my head an inch, or say my arm in front of my head, and then resumes.

No idea of the cause! Thought it was just me!