This factsheet is part of RNID’s tinnitus range. It is written for people who have tinnitus, their families, friends and the professionals who work with them.

Tinnitus is a medical term to describe noise(s) that people can hear in one ear, both ears or in the head – such as ringing, buzzing or whistling. The sounds heard can vary from person to person, but the common link is that they do not have an external source.

If you would like this factsheet on audio tape, in Braille or in large print, please contact our Information Line.

Read this factsheet to find out:

At the end of this factsheet, we give you details of organisations you can contact for further information.

Medical disclaimer

The information given in this factsheet is not medical advice and by providing it neither RNID nor our tinnitus and medical advisors undertake any responsibility for your medical care, nor accept you as a patient. Before acting on any of the information contained in this factsheet, or deciding on a course of treatment, you should discuss the matter with your GP (family doctor) or other medical professional who is treating you.

What is low frequency noise?

Of all environmental noise, low frequency noises seem to be those that affect people most strongly. Low frequency noise corresponds to the lowest two octaves on a piano. When someone complains of hearing low frequency noise, they commonly describe it as humming, murmuring, rumbling or deep droning.

There are many sources of low frequency noise. Most are external noises, for example:

Pipes and cables underground, such as the ones used to pump gas, can also be a source of low frequency noise. It can also come from inside your home, such as the noise made by your fridge. There are also some natural sources, such as the wind, the sea and thunder.

How do I tell the difference between low frequency noise and tinnitus?

If you can hear low frequency noise all the time, you may feel that it’s not coming from your head or ears, but from external sources. You may feel that the source is in the house, in the street or in your neighbourhood.

Many people have difficulty deciding whether the noises they hear are coming from an external source or from inside their head (tinnitus). So how do you tell the difference? Asking yourself the following questions can help you work out what kind of noise you are experiencing:

Can anyone else hear the noise?

Ask friends or family if they can hear the noise too. If other people can hear the noise, then tinnitus is unlikely to be the cause. Be aware that some people may say that they can hear a noise to make you feel more reassured, even if they can’t hear anything.

Can you hear the noise only in one place, or everywhere?

If you hear the noise everywhere – for example, at home, in another house, or in another place – then it is probably tinnitus. Everyday sounds can mask mild tinnitus, so you may not notice it in the street but you may hear it when you’re somewhere quiet. If you only hear the noise in one room or part of one room, it may not be tinnitus.

Some tinnitus does seem to be related to how you are sitting or lying, so that you hear it when you are lying down, sitting, or turning your head. Pressure on your nerves, muscles or blood vessels, or changes in your blood flow after these kinds of movements or positions, might also affect your tinnitus.

Does the noise only happen at certain times?

You may only notice mild tinnitus if you are in a quiet place. You might find that your tinnitus is most noticeable when the background is quiet, such as when you are in bed or when you wake up in the morning. A more definite pattern to the noise may mean it is coming from an external source – for example, your central heating may be switched on at the same time each day.

Have you recently been ill, or are you under stress?

A recent cold, ear infection, or change in your hearing can sometimes be a trigger for tinnitus, which may or may not be temporary. You may also find that significant noise exposure, or having your ears syringed, can trigger tinnitus.

Stress may trigger your awareness of tinnitus, or make your existing tinnitus seem worse.

Research shows that there is a pattern between sensitivity to noise and depression. Low frequency noise can become very annoying if you are under stress, whether or not you have tinnitus.

Why are some people more aware of low frequency noise than others?

Most people live with low frequency noise on an everyday basis and hardly notice it. However, for some people, low frequency noise can be so loud that it sounds like ‘an aeroplane engine roaring in the room’. Many people ‘feel’ the sound with their ears, but people can also feel vibrations in their head or body.

When someone is very aware of low frequency noise, they are usually very sensitive to lower noise in general – even at levels that don’t normally bother other people. Hearing sensitivity varies from one person to another, so it’s often the case that one low frequency noise can be heard by one person and not another. In turn, it may annoy one person and not another.

People’s hearing also tends to deteriorate with age. This is called presbyacusis. Hearing generally gets worse more quickly at the high and mid frequencies than at the lower frequencies, which means that older people’s hearing tends to be more acute at low frequencies.

Can tinnitus sometimes sound like low frequency noise?

Yes. Tinnitus sounds can occasionally be low frequency – humming, murmuring, roaring or rumbling, so if you hear low frequency sounds, you shouldn’t rule out having tinnitus.

What are the effects of low frequency noise?

If you’re sensitive to low frequency noise, you may find that at first you are only aware of it when it is quiet or when you are on your own. However, if you focus your attention on it, you are likely to notice it more and may even find yourself monitoring the sound. This may make you more aware of low frequency noise during your everyday activities. Some people will find this makes them more irritable, or less able to fall sleep or concentrate.

Measuring and assessing low frequency noise

If you feel that you are being troubled by low frequency noise that is coming from outside your home, it can be helpful to contact your local environmental health officer from your local council to arrange for them to investigate.

However, a number of factors make measuring and assessing low frequency noise difficult. For example:

The government has now accepted that low frequency noise is a form of noise pollution. At the moment, however, there are no laws that allow councils to deal effectively with low frequency sounds that are causing a problem..

How can I deal with low frequency noise?

Many of the strategies used for managing tinnitus can be helpful in coping with low frequency noise. Try these tips:

Where can I buy products that may help?

RNID Products sells a range of equipment for people with hearing loss and tinnitus. Visit the RNID Shop at www.rnid.org.uk/tinnitusproducts (external link) to buy items of equipment online. Alternatively, you can request a copy of the Solutions catalogue by contacting RNID Products directly or by contacting RNID Tinnitus Helpline.

RNID Products, 1 Haddonbrook Business Centre, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6YX
Telephone: 01733 361199
Textphone: 01733 238020
Fax: 0870 789 8822
Email: solutions@rnid.org.uk
RNID Shop website (external link, opens new browser window)

Where can I get further information?

British Tinnitus Association (BTA)

The BTA campaigns for better services for people with tinnitus. It supports a network of local tinnitus groups around the country, has a range of publications and produces a quarterly magazine, Quiet.

British Tinnitus Association (BTA), Ground Floor, Unit 5, Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB
Telephone: 0800 018 0527
Textphone: 0114 258 5694
Fax: 0114 258 2279
Email: info@tinnitus.org.uk
BTA website (external link, opens new browser window)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

DEFRA can give you advice and information on low frequency noise.

DEFRA, Customer Contact Unit, Eastbury House, 30-34 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TL
Telephone: 0845 933 5577
Textphone: 0845 300 1998
Fax: 0207 238 3329
Email: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
DEFRA website (external link, opens new browser window)

Local council

Look in the Yellow Pages for contact details of your local council.

UK Noise Association (UKNA)

The UKNA campaigns about noise.

UK Noise Association, Broken Wharf House, 2 Broken Wharf, London EC4V 3DT
Telephone: 0207 329 0774
Fax: 0207 329 8160
Email: info@ukna.org.uk
UKNA website (external link, opens new browser window)

Contact a local group

If you feel you need more help with tinnitus directly from other people who also have it, you could contact a local tinnitus support group. They are set up and run by people with the condition or by professionals who work with tinnitus patients. The type of support and help they are able to offer varies between groups. Contact RNID Tinnitus Helpline for details of your nearest group.

Further information from RNID Tinnitus Helpline

RNID Tinnitus Helpline offers information and advice to people with tinnitus, their families and friends, and the professionals who work with them. You can contact us for further copies of this factsheet and the full range of our products for people with tinnitus. We also sell a book, "Understanding tinnitus – managing the noises in your ears or in your head", and a range of relaxation CDs and cassettes.

RNID Tinnitus Helpline

19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL
Telephone: 0808 808 6666
Textphone: 0808 808 0007
Fax: 020 7296 8199
SMS: 0780 0000 360 (supported by Lloyds TSB)
Email: tinnitushelpline@rnid.org.uk  
Tune out tinnitus website (external link, opens new browser window)
Available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm