Low Frequency Tinnitus

[Sydnears]

Welcome, @Stiwuuh.

I do not have any good advice, as I am still new to the hum myself (3.5 months). It is driving me absolutely mad. But I find some hope in knowing that many of our members have experienced it going away for periods of time.

Would you say you had habituated to it in the past? To me, it feels very intrusive and constantly present. I also find masking difficult, since I have reactive high-pitched tinnitus as well.

 

[Stiwuuh]

Thank you for your reply, and I'm sorry to hear that you're in the same boat.

No, I haven't habituated to the hum, even after almost ten years. Unfortunately, it has gotten worse since March 2025, with no known cause. The other tinnitus sounds no longer bother me, at least not to this extent.

I still hope it will improve at some point. It's constantly present, and masking is not an ideal solution, as the masking sounds also disturb my sleep.

Wishing you all the best. Hopefully, better days are ahead for both of us.

 

[Simona]

I've read through all these interesting posts, and they describe my situation quite well.

I've had tinnitus since 1995. In my right ear, I hear several high-pitched sounds, along with a central white noise. A low, humming drone began in 2014. Interestingly, the humming often stops after a long car ride of over six hours, providing residual inhibition for two to three days. I can also mask it quite well with low-frequency sounds.

Over the past ten years, I've had several periods, each lasting several months, when the humming completely stopped. However, since March 2025, it has returned loudly and persistently, with no known trigger. Curiously, it disappeared for a few days during a recent holiday in Denmark (I live in Switzerland), and I have no idea why.

I haven't been able to connect the humming to any particular factor, whether environment, climate, stress, diet, physical activity, or anything else. It seems to come and go completely at random. I have no hearing loss, no high blood pressure, and I'm not taking any medications.

Can anyone relate, and has anyone found relief through any method, supplement, or technique?

Best wishes, and thank you!

Our situations are so similar, it's almost creepy. I've also been struggling with the hum since 2014 — mine started after a long flight. It began slowly, but then got worse over time. Over the years, I've had some quieter phases, but sometimes it got so bad the hum was barely coverable. Last year, after a middle ear infection, it actually got a lot more stable for a while, even quiet during the day. But for me, even in the quiet phases, it always comes back overnight. Now, since March (same as you!), it's been getting worse again, with no clear reason. I've tried seeing doctors again, but no luck so far. Right now, I'm pretty frustrated. If it disappears in phases, there must be a reason, right? Why can't anyone figure out what we're dealing with?

My lifesavers have honestly been the white noise machines — I'd be totally lost without them. I even got a hearing aid programmed with white noise by an audiologist, so I'm a bit less bothered when I'm outside, especially on vacation. But of course, these are just coping tools; I still haven't found a real solution.

By the way, I'm also living in Switzerland — maybe it's the weather? ;-)

 

[Sydnears]

I just wanted to note that my hum was definitely caused by a middle ear infection, so it's likely due to nerve damage. It measures about 200 Hz.

It's not reactive. Mine doesn't disappear after driving or flights. When I do deep breathing and completely relax in the bath with no noise, I can sometimes make it stop entirely. Otherwise, it's always present and either pulses (which is far more annoying) or stays as a steady tone (which I don't mind as much).

Watching TV is very difficult because of the on-and-off nature of it. I don't perceive it to vibrate, so maybe it's not low enough in frequency?

 

[Sydnears]

I'm wondering if mine might be stapedial myoclonus.

It often feels like a rumbling that switches on and off, but it can also turn into a steady tone. It seems quieter when I'm in quiet environments.

In the bath last night it was completely gone. This is very rare. But droning away again intermittently when I went to bed.

Has anyone else received this diagnosis?

 

[Jambo]

I've read through all these interesting posts, and they describe my situation quite well.

I've had tinnitus since 1995. In my right ear, I hear several high-pitched sounds, along with a central white noise. A low, humming drone began in 2014. Interestingly, the humming often stops after a long car ride of over six hours, providing residual inhibition for two to three days. I can also mask it quite well with low-frequency sounds.

Over the past ten years, I've had several periods, each lasting several months, when the humming completely stopped. However, since March 2025, it has returned loudly and persistently, with no known trigger. Curiously, it disappeared for a few days during a recent holiday in Denmark (I live in Switzerland), and I have no idea why.

I haven't been able to connect the humming to any particular factor, whether environment, climate, stress, diet, physical activity, or anything else. It seems to come and go completely at random. I have no hearing loss, no high blood pressure, and I'm not taking any medications.

Can anyone relate, and has anyone found relief through any method, supplement, or technique?

Best wishes, and thank you!

Sorry to hear about your struggles. They sound very similar to mine. I'm only eight months in, and I'm really battling some dark thoughts that keep growing stronger each day.

I'm wondering, with all your experience, have you been able to live a normal and happy life despite the low-pitched tinnitus? I'd truly appreciate your insight as someone who's dealt with it for a while.

Right now, living a normal life just doesn't feel possible. I don't think I can raise a family or work a regular job with this constant noise. It's unbearable.

Thank you for your time, and I'm sorry I don't have anything helpful to offer you.

 

[Sydnears]

Sorry to hear about your struggles. They sound very similar to mine. I'm only eight months in, and I'm really battling some dark thoughts that keep growing stronger each day.

I'm wondering, with all your experience, have you been able to live a normal and happy life despite the low-pitched tinnitus? I'd truly appreciate your insight as someone who's dealt with it for a while.

Right now, living a normal life just doesn't feel possible. I don't think I can raise a family or work a regular job with this constant noise. It's unbearable.

Thank you for your time, and I'm sorry I don't have anything helpful to offer you.

Is it not masked by everyday noise? Most low-frequency tinnitus usually is.

 

[Sydnears]

Just to keep this thread going… (I feel like I'm talking to myself )

When my hum is "on" (about 80 percent of the time) and I occlude my ear, most of the time I can hear it warbling all over the place. To me, it feels very much like a "living" sound. There's absolutely no pattern to it. At other times it's just completely "on," more of a steady continuous sound.

Occasionally, I've noticed that when I tilt my head all the way back, the noise can lessen, but the intensity increases as I tilt my head down.

Here are some considerations in my particular case:

1. Nerve damage, though it feels so random.
2. Endolymphatic hydrops from the infection, but there's no feeling of fullness. I did, however, have vertigo and one severe episode when I had the infection.
3. Muscular issues, such as TTTS.

I don't care what it is, but four months in, I'm not handling it well at all. It's so random and intrusive when it's "on." I'm just hoping it fades at least somewhat with time.