[defyinggravity65]

I have OCD and recently have been obsessing about how when it's really quiet I can hear a faint ringing in both ears. I have to be really focusing on in in a quiet room to hear it, and once I start to notice it it seems to get louder. I alost hear two sounds: one higher pitched ringing that almost sounds like you're standing under huge power lines, except its very quiet, and one lower pitched air whooshing sound that is again, very quiet. I'm wondering if this is tinnitus or if this is something everyone gets if they focus on it? Like if it's just the noise of my body working or just how the brain interprets silence. Please let me know what you guys think.

[SeekerOfLife]

It sounds like tinnitus to me. I have had it for 15 years. I have been told there is no cure. It is often associated with getting older and hearing loss.

[IrisBloom]

I believe actual tinnitus is when you hear the ringing involuntarily and in spite of other sounds. When it's quiet and you hear it, it could be several things. Could be you can't hear "nothing" so you have a noise to focus on. Could be something going on in your inner ear that actually makes a ringing noise. I've heard (hehe) that sometimes the noise is real and it can be heard by others.

I've had tinnitis for years also. But it's not really bothersome. I've learned to deal with it mostly. I hardly notice it most of the time.

[defyinggravity65]

Thanks. Wish I knew for sure.

[sub-dural]

Sounds like it. I have it... It's amplified when I'm wearing ear plugs - maybe try that out to make sure.

The thing with tinnitus is you only notice it when it is quiet... I hardly notice anymore; it doesn't really go away, but try white noise when you sleep (run a fan or something, that's what I do).