Had Tinnitus for Years, But Now Loud "Engine Idling" Sound in One Ear!

I’m a 55 year old woman. I’ve had high-pitched tinnitus for several years now and I’d gotten used to it. But just recently, I developed a low-frequency “engine idling” sound in my right ear. It is much louder when it is quiet in the room. It is there all the time, even when I put earplugs in my ears! The earplugs seen to quiet it a little bit, but it is still there!

It isn’t a flutter (I’ve had the flutter occasionally in the other ear and that is much louder). This is more like hearing a car or truck outside of my house idling its engine — low frequency and constant. It is NOT my heartbeat. It is a constant low frequency motor-like sound — similar to a piece of equipment that is always running. It is there in addition to the high-pitched buzzing I’ve been hearing all these years.

Can hyperthyroidism cause this? After I got off hormones (I’m now post-menopausal), I had to adjust my level of Synthroid. I have Hashimoto’s (hypothyroidism) and suddenly on my last blood test, my TSH was extremely hyper (0.08) when it is usually around 1.50! I’m taking less Synthroid now, but it takes weeks for the body to adjust.

Can SSRI’s cause this? I have been taking a small (15mg) dose of generic Celexa for years with no problems. Now I wonder whether it (along with taking no female hormones) may be causing this? I plan to talk to my doctor about possibly reducing my Celexa dose. Many years ago, I got really bad tinnitus (loud high pitched whooshing sound) when I had gotten off Zoloft. It took many weeks to disappear, but it did go away.

I had a sinus infection last month, but antibiotics cleared it up. The doctor looked in my ear with a scope and said it looked OK to him — no fluid as far as he could see. However, he is specifically a sinus specialist. I have not seen an ENT or hearing specialist yet about this problem. This problem developed shortly after my sinus infection went away. But I was on Prednisone for a couple of weeks due to bronchitis that remained. Can Prednisone cause this????

I’m hoping that the sound will go away once my TSH gets back into the normal range, but if it doesn’t I plan to see a doctor. Should I see an ENT or a hearing specialist or both?

I appreciate your advice. Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Hi @Canyonmom,
We have some things in common...I am also a 55 year old female with tinnitus. My tinnitus is due to a sudden loss of all hearing in my left ear a couple of years ago. Aside from the prednisone, I have no experience with the meds you have mentioned and I don't know whether or not they could cause tinnitus problems. I would visit an audiologist if you haven't done so yet. Hearing loss and tinnitus seem to be pals. Anyway, welcome to Tinnitustalk and I hope your tinnitus goes away like it did for you before.

 

Have you learned anything about the engine idling sound? I do not have tinnitus but have recently developed the same noise that you describe in my left ear. I am a 52 year old woman in the throes of menopause, and take no meds. I'm hoping you can shed some light on this very irritating condition. Thanks!

 

I have a roaring sound in one ear that is extremely disturbing. I'm 34 years old. Mine is from Meniere's disease unfortunately. It went away completely for a week two months ago and now it's horrible. 70 decibels.

 

Are you on diuretic?
Did you try low dose naltrexone?

 

I've had tinnitus since 1980 and I don't notice it unless I concentrate on it. I began gradually losing the hearing in my left ear in the late 1970's and in approximately 1987 the hearing suddenly ended completely. I can still hear in my right ear.

For about 2 years after the 5G towers were put up I have been hearing the sound of a truck or other large vehicle idling outside of my bedroom window, but there is no vehicle there, and sometimes I hear a chain saw in the distance cutting a tree. The truck and chain saw sounds last all night long, but not every night. A couple of times, but only recently, I've heard sounds like a large flock of birds in a tree and a loud high-pitched ringing (not the same as my tinnitus). I have a friend who is also sensitive to sounds who claims she also hears unusual sounds when she visits here.

I'm not actually "hearing" the sounds - the sound(s) is still there in my head when I cover/plug my right ear.

Anyone else out there noticing the same thing?