Is this normal or have my ears become over-sensitive to sound?

Question

Everytime the fan start (in the AC) at home every 10 minutes or so, I become restless becoz it makes a low ringing sound. It's not loud but despite that it permeates me and I realized I can't even sleep. I dread everytime the ringing starts. Same thing with my refrigerator. I have realized lately that I have become extremely sensitive to its sounds. I don't find these sounds normal. It totally irritates me. I am looking for silence. Does ur fridge and ac make sounds that disturb u too?

What should I do. Would addressing it to management (apartment) be weird.

Answer 1

You need to tell management to get the motor fixed in those appliances so the noise will stop.  

My A/C and fridge don't bother me.  Sometimes my fridge will rattle when the motor stops running.

Answer 2

I do not know how old you are but I also find certain noises can become quite painful in a way that they did not when i was younger. The ringing may be the onset of Tinnitus for which I do not think their is a cure and can be a sign that you are going deaf. So get a hearing check  

Answer 3

I would first have a few friends verify that the sounds are disturbing to them also. The two possibilities here are that you either have an annoying fridge and AC or that you have very sensitive ears. If your friends agree that the sounds are disturbing then I would definitely talk to management. If your friends do not hear it then it could possibly be your ears. Your inner ear is basically a series of band pass filters that allow certain frequencies in with a certain attenuation rate. If you were someone with a hearing aid I would suggest that you have your doctor fix the attenuation rate on your hearing aid to further attenuate your low end frequencies. I know that they sell specially made ear plugs that allow you to block out certain frequencies also...but I would hate to tell you to wear ear plugs in your own home. I dont know if this helps at all, but good luck!

Answer 4

Twenty five years ago, my mother's refrigerator would make a very high pitched sound when it turned on. I couldn't figure out what was bothering me, until I heard it kick on. No one else could hear it. But I started watching the dogs. Every time the fridge kicked on, their ears shot back. So I know it wasn't just me.

Tell the landlord that the AC unit needs repair.  

Answer 5

I hear a lot of background noise too.  Some people are just like that.