5 ms·
Is it? I have experienced both these things: 1. A high-pitched hum, that is always there, if I choose to listen to it in a quiet place. (It's quiet enough now
by bloak 8y ago
Is it? I have experienced both these things:
1. A high-pitched hum, that is always there, if I choose to listen to it in a quiet place. (It's quiet enough now in my kitchen at 08:05; the only real sound I can hear is a collared dove every now and then.) If I really concentrate on it it can turn into a sound almost like crashing waves.
2. A ringing sound that is loud enough to interfere with hearing real sounds. I only have this a few times a year, often brought on by loud noises.
I had assumed that 1 is a standard feature of human hearing, while 2 is a medical condition called tinnitus. However, although lots of people have described 1, I'm not sure that everyone experiences it. It would be useful to have different names for these two things, even if they are to be described as two types of tinnitus.
- srean 8y agoIndeed. In fact I can get to 1 when its quiet and I have my full concentration. I think the nervous system has a dynamic gain. Its when things are quiet that the gain is high enough to tune into the high pitch hum. Hearing it for me is a good sign that I am now ready and in the 'zone'. It is insanely frustrating when you want to get into the zone but cant, at such times i really crave for the hum to start.
- cimmanom 8y agoTinnitus can become permanent. It's common in those who have abused their hearing with extended exposure to loud noise - be it at a loud workplace, rock concerts, or just blasting music through headphones. Because of that last one, it's quite common among those of us who grew up in the Walkman generation and later.