Do any of you have this 'problem' with your white noise machine, lol?

9 years ago

After struggling with waking up at night, I bought a 'white noise' machine about 10 years ago, (as they're smaller than most fans and probably use less electricity.) It does such a great job of lulling me to sleep!

Although these machines offer several sounds, 'white noise' works best for me, as it's more monotone. 'Ocean waves' or 'thunderstorms' etc., periodically change pitch and rhythm, which keeps me awake. But lately, even my beloved 'white noise' is failing to lull me to sleep. Just as I start to drift off, it starts 'chanting' some nonsensical phrase that totally rouses me from my near sleep state.

I obviously know that my white noise machine isn't really uttering anything, lol! But the monotone whirring it starts out with, now changes after several minutes to a less consistent sound, that tricks my ears into thinking they hear muffled singsong phrases. The only way to unhear the little ditty is to lay on my side with one ear to the pillow, which blurs the sound a bit. If I'm lucky enough to fall asleep in this position, I don't wake up upon changing positions throughout the night.

I was just curious if any of you with a sound machine who use 'white noise' ever experience the same thing? I'm thinking this audio hallucination might not be perceived in the settings with more variance than 'white noise.' The nonsensical phrases I perceive, differ every night, but continue on a loop until I doze off. Some of the ones I recall are:

"Granny's knees are dirty! Granny's knees are dirty! ......."

"The tall cheese won't keep! The tall cheese won't keep!....."

"Dogs are jumping! Dogs are jumping!....."

"Marshmallows in a box! Marshmallows in a box!....."

and last night's made me chuckle out loud, before I put an ear to the pillow and managed to drift off -

"The Queen is making poo poo, the Queen is making poo poo"

I'm happy to say that when I asked DD who was visiting, if she perceived anything sounding like words, from my machine, to write it on a slip of paper. She heard "Peanut butter in a vase.." when I heard "See the otter any day..." So at least she didn't just hear whirring and there was even a slight similarity to what we 'heard' lol!

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LucyStar1

9 years ago

After ten years of use, I would buy a new machine. Maybe it's just wearing out.

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Comments (13)

OklaMoni
9 years ago
My daughter and I had that feeling of hearing voices with a fan I was using at her house. So far, my white noise machine hasn't tricked me like that. Mine is set on rain. Nice slow rain. ;)

Moni
moonie_57 (8 NC)
9 years ago
hahaha... never had a noise machine but i did have a bird in in my backyard this past summer that constantly called me freaky b***h. I didn't hold it against him because I'm always hearing phrases from things I shouldn't! :)

Sorry I just now saw ur txt but i would love to help. Just give me date and time. We can take all this stuff to the animal shelter on our way if u want and save a trip. Fyi I'm keeping the grands on friday and taking them out on the boat pending weather if u want to go.
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amicus
Original Author
9 years ago
Moni, I thought I'd like the rain setting, as I love the sound of real rain. But on my machine, it's too high of a pitch to sound realistic. Mine also has 'chirping birds' 'crickets' and 'cicada nights' which I can't imagine lulling me off to sleep...but they must have test marketed sounds before making these machines, so my ears must just be as picky as my shopping. ;)
amicus
Original Author
9 years ago
moonie, I think maybe you inadvertently typed your second paragraph on here, rather than on your phone???
gyr_falcon
9 years ago
pickyshopper, maybe we are just reading things that we shouldn't in the same way moonie "always hearing phrases from things I shouldn't!"...... :D
Sherry8aNorthAL
9 years ago
I bought the "Sound Machine". It just makes an air moving sound like a fan. I have two that have a high and low. I never use the low, so when I bought a third, I just got a single speed. They have adjustments on the side and top to change the pitch.
anoriginal
9 years ago
I ABSOLUTELY know what you're talking about! Had unfortunate hospital stay back at end of October... 3 days in ICU and better part of 2 more days in regular room. While in ICU was hooked up most of the time to IVs. They made a rhythmic sound as they pumped stuff into me. I think ICU nurse thought I was losing it when I told her it sound like "?????".
crazybrunette64
9 years ago
Just an FYI - if you have an ipod/ipad or other such device, you can find a variety of white noises on Pandora and Spotify - probably others as well that I haven't tried.
lily316
9 years ago
I have two sound machines and have them both set to white noise as the intensity stays the same. I have yet to hear voices and I've had them both for awhile. I cannot sleep without them. Dogs, traffic...
Kathsgrdn
9 years ago
Yep, only it isn't distinct words I hear in it, and I use the rain or white noise mostly. But I haven't used it in a few months because it sounds like people are talking and it was creeping me out. lol
Michael
9 years ago
No. Our white noise is "box fan", using a fee based iPad app with bluetooth connection to speaker across the room. It never talks to me.
amicus
Original Author
9 years ago
lily, I'm hooked on my noise machine as well, and even wake up suddenly if a power outage shuts it off!

kathsgrdn, thankfully I don't hear the sounds of a distinct voice, lol. It's more that the smooth sound the white noise used to make, is now a bit more inconsistent and pitchy, which makes it sound like muffled singsong phrases. I'm pretty sure it's just the ageing motor that's causing the inconsistent sound, so I guess it's time for a new one!

Do any of you have this 'problem' with your white noise machine, lol?

LucyStar1

Comments (13)

OklaMoni

moonie_57 (8 NC)

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Do any of you have this 'problem' with your white noise machine, lol?

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