The Hum-----A DescriptionThe Hum has a very distinctive sound that is instantly recognised by Hum sufferers around the world. It is often described as the sound of a diesel engine idling some distance away, or the drone of a distant propeller driven aircraft which never comes nearer or goes away.
The intensity of the Hum can vary greatly but it is usually at its most intense during the early hours, around 3-4am local time and at weekends.
The Hum is invariably much greater indoors than outside, also greater upstairs, in small rooms, passageways and stairwells.
The Hum can also be "heard" in a stationary car with the engine switched off.
The use of sound proofing, ear-plugs or ear protectors are ineffective, in fact, by eliminating extraneous noise, these only serve to intensify the perceived Hum level.
The Hum is very selective, approximately 5% of the population "hear" the noise, almost all are aged 50 or over, and 70% of these are women.
The physical effects which accompany the Hum vary both in type and intensity and depend a great deal on the individual.
The most common effects reported are:* Insomnia * Difficulty concentrating * Headache * Burning Skin * Nausea * Fatigue * Tension * Pins and Needles * Muscle Spasms * Heart Palpitations * Eye Strain * Ear Pressure
If you find that in the household you are the only one that can "hear" the noise and it always decreases when you go outdoors, than it is a pretty safe bet that you are affected by the Hum.
Rating Scale this scale was posted with kind permission of the German Hum site IGZAB
0 = no hum audible
1 = moderate. The hum is constantly audible, but only as a quiet, soft background noise. Sleeping is not affected.
2 = disruptive. The hum is apparent even above other noises, becoming annoying and irritating. Any of the following may also be experienced: a rumbling noise, pressure on the ears, inability to concentrate, sleep disruptions or difficulty falling asleep. If the affected person is attempting to work in a quiet situation, the hum makes it difficult to think.
3 = very disruptive. Volume and / or vibrations (see note below) at a higher level. Affected person feels a compulsion to seek the outdoors to escape the noise, and may become aggressive. If sleeping, then the periods of being unable to sleep exceed the periods of sleep. The affected person is therefore fatigued during the day.
4 = physical (bodily) symptoms. The noise is so insistent that thinking is prevented. The affected person is left with only the wish that the noise would stop! Symptoms such as the following may be experienced: dizziness, a feeling of pressure in the chest, perspiration, sleeplessness, uncontrolled twitching of the eyes, muscular vibrations or cramps, uncontrolled muscular twitches, a stiff neck, tension headache, irregular pulse, muscle and joint pain. The associated tension and excitation results in exhaustion. Vibrations (see below) are experienced at an intense level and perhaps in combination with a rumbling.
5 = hardly bearable. The hum is overpowering and survival is the only remaining thought. The affected person retreats into a foetal position in reaction to the onslaught of sensory perception. The symptoms described for level 4 may be combined with the feeling of the body being subjected to electrical current
It is interesting to note that of a list of 20 symptoms prepared by an organisation researching Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME) , 16 of these symptoms could be equally applied to those suffering from the HUM
A small sample of press cuttings collected from British newspapers over the past 23 years to view click here