Creaking floorboards, unexplained whispers and mysterious bumps in the night can seem especially frightening as Halloween draws near. When the house falls silent, it is easy to imagine ghosts—or even reach for the Ghostbusters’ phone number.
“At Halloween, we’re primed to notice unusual noises, particularly when we’re lying in bed and the house is quiet,” says Ash Shah, head of audiology at The Hearing Care Partnership. “However, if you regularly hear sounds that no one else can hear, or everyday noises have started to sound louder, distorted or different, it could be a sign of a hearing problem.”
So is it a ghoul—or a potential hearing issue? Shah explains the five warning signs to watch for.
1. You hear unexplained knocking or humming
Those ominous knocks in the middle of the night could be linked to tinnitus, according to Shah.
“Tinnitus is commonly associated with ringing in the ears, but it can take many forms and is often more noticeable at night, when there is less background noise to mask it,” he says. “People may describe it as ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling or whooshing. It can be constant or intermittent, affect one or both ears, or feel as though it is coming from inside the head.”
Around one in seven adults in the UK experiences tinnitus, and it becomes more common with age. The condition can often be managed and does not itself cause hearing loss, although the two can occur together.
Unusual noises at night could be a symptom of a hearing problem, audiologist Ash Shah warns
“It is worth having your ears checked if tinnitus lasts for more than a week or two, and sooner if it affects only one ear, pulses in time with your heartbeat, or occurs alongside dizziness, ear pain or discharge,” says Shah.
2. You hear voices that are not there
Phantom whispers, laughter or music may sound alarming, and some people who experience them assume they need psychiatric help. However, these sounds can result from the brain attempting to fill gaps caused by hearing loss—a phenomenon known as auditory deprivation or Musical Ear Syndrome.
“Music is the most common sound, followed by voices,” says Shah. “People often report hearing familiar older songs rather than new music. Voices are usually muffled and indistinct, and may repeat. This is more common among older adults and often happens in quiet surroundings.”
3. Everyday sounds seem unusually loud
Hearing loss does not always mean that every sound becomes quieter, Shah says. If switching on the kettle makes you jump, you could be experiencing hyperacusis. The condition causes ordinary sounds, such as running water or closing a door, to seem much louder than they should—and they may sometimes feel painful.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Thomas Markle’s Granddaughter Says “Something Was Off” and Recalls Grandmother Writing Letter Amid Child Sexual Image Allegations
“When the signal from the ear is reduced, the brain compensates by amplifying the sounds that do get through,” says Shah. “If the amplification is excessive, normal everyday noises can seem uncomfortably loud.”
Hyperacusis affects between 2 and 9 per cent of people and is more common among those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is also associated with tinnitus, although not everyone with tinnitus develops hyperacusis, and vice versa.
4. Sounds become loud very quickly
Recruitment is another condition in which sounds can shift from quiet to loud with little warning. For instance, a person may ask someone speaking softly to raise their voice, then find the increased volume uncomfortable.
“Sounds move from very quiet to uncomfortably loud across a much narrower range than they should,” Shah says. “The outer hair cells in the inner ear act like a tiny amplifier, giving quiet sounds a greater boost while adding very little to sounds that are already loud. When these cells become damaged, that boost is reduced, shortening the distance between very quiet and uncomfortably loud.”
5. Sounds seem muffled or distorted
If noises sound muffled or distorted, the cause may be less mysterious than scratching behind the walls or strange sounds from the basement. A build-up of earwax could be responsible.
About one in 20 adults experiences earwax build-up, says Shah. Symptoms can include muffled or distorted hearing, earache, a feeling of fullness or blockage, hearing loss and tinnitus. Fortunately, the problem is usually straightforward to treat: mild cases may improve with eardrops, while more significant blockages can be removed by an audiologist.
What should I do if I experience hearing problems?
Sudden hearing loss—or sudden hearing loss accompanied by tinnitus—should be treated as an emergency and assessed on the same day where possible. Prompt treatment gives the ear the best chance of recovery, says Shah.
Conductive hearing loss, meaning hearing loss that is not caused by damage to the inner ear, is usually treatable. “This could involve wax removal, treating infections or managing an eardrum perforation, which may sometimes heal by itself or, where appropriate, require surgical intervention,” Shah explains.
“Sensorineural hearing loss, where the inner ear is damaged, is a form of permanent hearing loss and requires the damage to be addressed through hearing devices,” Shah continues. “In some situations, additional assistive listening devices may also be needed, particularly where hearing remains challenging even with hearing aids.”
Whatever the cause, anyone who notices a change in their hearing should arrange an assessment with an audiologist.
“Have your hearing checked regularly so any changes can be monitored, and if a problem is identified, act early and use the recommended solution consistently,” Shah advises. “If you suspect a build-up of wax, do not try to remove it yourself. Leave your ears alone and seek appropriate care from a trained clinician.”
