Does unpleasant reaction to high-frequency sound signify a health problem?
October 23, 2010 7:18 PM Subscribe
I experience dizziness and nausea after hearing high-frequency sounds. Neither my wife nor stepdaughter do, so I'm beginning to wonder- is there something weird going on with my ears/brain?
I'm guessing the relevant sounds are in the neighborhood of 15kHz; nothing under 10kHz has this effect. (I haven't nailed the frequency range down with repeated experimentation because the effect is exceedingly unpleasant.)
Since the frequencies are so high, but I still perceive them despite being 31 years old, they must be pretty loud.
Since no one else I know has reported experiencing anything similar, I have to wonder whether this is a sign of anything wrong or weird about me.
I'm guessing the relevant sounds are in the neighborhood of 15kHz; nothing under 10kHz has this effect. (I haven't nailed the frequency range down with repeated experimentation because the effect is exceedingly unpleasant.)
Since the frequencies are so high, but I still perceive them despite being 31 years old, they must be pretty loud.
Since no one else I know has reported experiencing anything similar, I have to wonder whether this is a sign of anything wrong or weird about me.
Best answer: This isn't unusual... google "nausea" and "high frequency" and you'll get a lot of hits... there's even a "prank" device to cause nausea...
posted by HuronBob at 7:42 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by HuronBob at 7:42 PM on October 23, 2010
Is it a TV or CRT monitor that sets you off possibly? They reside around 15,750 Hz. I know it's annoying to me, but others can't hear it. There have been studies into using ultrasound/infrasound to cause nausea, mostly for dispersing crowds, but I don't know of anything concrete. I'd go to an ear guy and tell him about it, might be tinnitus.
posted by sanka at 7:43 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by sanka at 7:43 PM on October 23, 2010
Response by poster: alexandermatheson-
The tinnitus suggestion is interesting, but this discomfort seems to be triggered by real sounds, and wikipedia implies that tinnitus is the perception of spurious sounds.
As far as I can tell, it is purely auditory. The first time I became aware of this phenomenon, I had accidentally induced this effect while playing with an audio editor's synthesis functions. It last happened today when a Christmas toy at a store played a tune, without any unusual light effects, but notably with a set of incredibly obnoxious overtones that my family seemed oblivious to.
sanka- I can tell when TVs/CRTs are on, but they don't have this effect on me.
HuronBob- you're probably right, though I'm old enough that I'd expect not to be vulnerable to that sort of thing. I missed it googling because I focused on the dizziness rather than the nausea.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:11 PM on October 23, 2010
The tinnitus suggestion is interesting, but this discomfort seems to be triggered by real sounds, and wikipedia implies that tinnitus is the perception of spurious sounds.
As far as I can tell, it is purely auditory. The first time I became aware of this phenomenon, I had accidentally induced this effect while playing with an audio editor's synthesis functions. It last happened today when a Christmas toy at a store played a tune, without any unusual light effects, but notably with a set of incredibly obnoxious overtones that my family seemed oblivious to.
sanka- I can tell when TVs/CRTs are on, but they don't have this effect on me.
HuronBob- you're probably right, though I'm old enough that I'd expect not to be vulnerable to that sort of thing. I missed it googling because I focused on the dizziness rather than the nausea.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:11 PM on October 23, 2010
I have misophonia (the ability to hear a wider range of sound, and the subsequent "allergy" to said sounds) so I feel nauseated and upset when I hear anything on the extreme side of the sound spectrum, be it super low or super high. What has your experience been with sounds on the low frequencies?
I wonder if maybe you've burst an ear drum and as a result your inner ear is off. There are other sound-related afflictions such as hyperacusis and phonophobia that might play into this as well, but I agree with the suggestion that you should see your GP and have them do a thorough examination.
Major bummer, all in all. I hope you figure out what's up -- I'd certainly like to know what the end result is.
posted by patronuscharms at 8:55 PM on October 23, 2010
I wonder if maybe you've burst an ear drum and as a result your inner ear is off. There are other sound-related afflictions such as hyperacusis and phonophobia that might play into this as well, but I agree with the suggestion that you should see your GP and have them do a thorough examination.
Major bummer, all in all. I hope you figure out what's up -- I'd certainly like to know what the end result is.
posted by patronuscharms at 8:55 PM on October 23, 2010
Response by poster: patronuscharms- thanks for bringing up misophonia. I have noticed that on some days, my acoustic reflex kicks in even for sounds at normal volume, which wikipedia says may be linked to hyperacusis.
I'll definitely going to talk about this with my GP.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:12 PM on October 23, 2010
I'll definitely going to talk about this with my GP.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:12 PM on October 23, 2010
For me, both (mild) nausea and what feels like an overactive acoustic reflex are associated with migraines. If your sensitivity comes and goes, then maybe that's a thing to consider.
How long do your effects last after hearing the sound? Moments, minutes, hours?
posted by hattifattener at 1:05 AM on October 24, 2010
How long do your effects last after hearing the sound? Moments, minutes, hours?
posted by hattifattener at 1:05 AM on October 24, 2010
Best answer: I've been struggling with an ear infection for the past few weeks and experienced a seasick-type feeling for the first time ever after enduring a high pitched sound, so I agree that it might be something to do with an ear injury/problem.
posted by ukdanae at 2:09 AM on October 24, 2010
posted by ukdanae at 2:09 AM on October 24, 2010
I've always been able to hear high-pitched sounds others couldn't (I was the first to tell when a fluorescent light bulb was starting to die as a kid; there's a TV I can't use because of a buzzing sound that overpowers the audio of the programs that at most, other people hear as a faint whir, etc.) Whenever I'm sick in the "stuffy head" sense, whether from a sinus infection or an ear infection or a garden-variety cold or allergies, high-pitched tones make me feel like puking. Same with headaches (only there, lots of other things also make me feel like puking, so.)
It's really annoying. I wish you luck.
posted by SMPA at 8:28 AM on October 24, 2010
It's really annoying. I wish you luck.
posted by SMPA at 8:28 AM on October 24, 2010
Response by poster: For me, both (mild) nausea and what feels like an overactive acoustic reflex are associated with migraines. If your sensitivity comes and goes, then maybe that's a thing to consider.
I can trigger this effect at will (I've got an offending .wav file, not that it gets much play :P ).
How long do your effects last after hearing the sound? Moments, minutes, hours?
In general, it rises in intensity until it peaks within tens of seconds to a minute of exposure, then gradually decays over the course of an hour, though occasionally the decay takes up to around 6 hours.
I've been struggling with an ear infection for the past few weeks and experienced a seasick-type feeling for the first time ever after enduring a high pitched sound, so I agree that it might be something to do with an ear injury/problem.
I first became aware of this after I had worked at a warehouse for a few years (where there were lots of loud noises) so this is a strong possibility.
Whenever I'm sick in the "stuffy head" sense, whether from a sinus infection or an ear infection or a garden-variety cold or allergies, high-pitched tones make me feel like puking
The strange thing is that for me the feeling of imminent vomiting is rare compared to dizziness and a generally "unsettled" feeling. ukdanae's description of the sensation as "a seasick-type feeling" is pretty apt.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:43 AM on October 24, 2010
I can trigger this effect at will (I've got an offending .wav file, not that it gets much play :P ).
How long do your effects last after hearing the sound? Moments, minutes, hours?
In general, it rises in intensity until it peaks within tens of seconds to a minute of exposure, then gradually decays over the course of an hour, though occasionally the decay takes up to around 6 hours.
I've been struggling with an ear infection for the past few weeks and experienced a seasick-type feeling for the first time ever after enduring a high pitched sound, so I agree that it might be something to do with an ear injury/problem.
I first became aware of this after I had worked at a warehouse for a few years (where there were lots of loud noises) so this is a strong possibility.
Whenever I'm sick in the "stuffy head" sense, whether from a sinus infection or an ear infection or a garden-variety cold or allergies, high-pitched tones make me feel like puking
The strange thing is that for me the feeling of imminent vomiting is rare compared to dizziness and a generally "unsettled" feeling. ukdanae's description of the sensation as "a seasick-type feeling" is pretty apt.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:43 AM on October 24, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Any chance it could be tinnutis? That's partially why I ask about the sources—that, and if like myself, lightbulbs irritate you, perhaps flickering light might be involved also? Or, more likely it's as you've described, purely auditory.
I'd have your GP examine your ears. Again, given the intermittent nature of the high pitch, inner-ear infection can probably be ruled out. It would explain the dizziness and nausea, though, and can present without noticeable pain (apart from the preceding symptoms, that is!).
Best of luck; hope this resolves quickly, as it sounds highly (dreadful pun, I apologize) uncomfortable.
posted by alexandermatheson at 7:38 PM on October 23, 2010