Whirring noise while accelerating?

I have a Whirring noise that sounds like it is coming from the front. Although after driving at 55mph and opening my driver's door to lean out and listen it also sounds like it is kinda coming from below so I haven't an actual clue where the noise is in particular. I had turned the air/con on when it was hot out and it made a weird noise but blew cold air and went away. Shortly after I started driving and it was performing very weird. Hesitant to speed up, slight loss of power up hill, and then came the whiring noise. When in park it sounds like rattling pebbles or dry beans in a soda can. There is no whiring noise at this time. Or when in neutral or reverse though I'm obvi not driving about 15 mph when in reverse which is the speed this problem shows itself. From a stop I apply the accelerator and off we go, no noise until I reach 15 mph and about 1250-1500 roms. This is when this whining noise that I could liken to running a board through a planer sounds. It is speed dependant and gains in volume and pitch. I parked it and slowly built up my rpms to 4500 with no noise presenting itself so I ruled out any pulleys, the belts and the alternator. My next test came as I was driving heard the noise and had the air/con on and Bluetooth music. I turned the air off and the noise was still there. In the begining it sounded like perhaps a grounding issue with me radio but after completely turning the radio off it persisted. I then decided to rev up and haul it to about 65-70 and then shift into neutral and glide. The noise it seemed was still there though not as loud which made me think the transmission was fine. I took it to a shop that hooked it up to a computer for analysis and they drove it for about four hours then called me back and said the trans info they managed to collect was in spec and the trans was ticketyboo. So no transmission problem. I went on a few forums and learned that the 16-19 escape was known for problems with the flex plate fracturing and breaking apart due to over torqued bolts from the factory. This was also noted in the Fusion, Focus, and a few other models of the same year range. The shop inserted a camera into a small hole in the casing and stated that the flex plate was perfectly fine. The fluid level was nominal and there are no hard shifts. Just the standard shutters from gear changes when speed alters as the foot is pressed and released from the accelerator during driving to control speed. My explorer (2013 Sport) also does this. The mechanics I took it to, a small mom and pop shop (support small business, they matter too mate) stated that after putting my baby on the lift and inspecting the underside that I had mud and rocks under my heat shields and this was found when they tapped them with a hammer to see if they were loose. This was found to be correct as some of the brackets and clips had managed to brake off and the shields were bent and contorted instead of being their true shape. They deduced that this could also be contributing to the noise problem and proceeded to remove said rocks and mud and secure the shields the best they could ATM as they didn't have the clips and such to completely put it back to factory spec. The noise I must agree has gotten a tad better though it is still there. So with the flex plate, transmission and torque converter, heat shields (semi ruled out) radio, alternator, belts, pulleys and tires deemed to not be responsible I'm still scratching my head as to what it could possibly be. My performance restored on hill inclines and cruise control works just as it did when I first got it. The air/con continues to blow cold air when ran and when I am parked there is no noise when the fans activate. Also when the radiator fans do their work there is no weird noise. Engine noise is the same as it was, you can really hear those loud fuel injectors clicking away to deliver the good stuff. Ive ran fuel injector cleaner through a couple of times inline with what the manufacturer (gumout) of the cleaner stated to do. My fuel avg went from 21.5 to 22 so hey, at least thats looking positive right? After all these tests to see what the problem could be I've managed to get down to it being either the wheel bearing which I had an independent mechanic ride along and after a block he stated he felt vibrations on the floor above the wheel well and he too could also hear said howling or whining (whatever you want to call it). He stated so with complete belief and as he took the time out of his busy day to help me with my issue and did so without benefit to himself as in not requiring payment and giving his reasons to why the problem is the wheel bearing I feel that he might have tracked the issue down. Now, when I turn once in a while I can hear a metallic crunch or pop especially when it's a tighter turn. Which also lead me to think that it could be the problem. But I know my turbo was brought up as a possible issue and it has a slight vacuum leak that I'm attempting to track down and remedy. So my question after all this plot and setting is, do you think that it is the wheel bearing or could it be a combination of bearing, turbo and heat shield? There is currently still no shifting problems and no overheating or excessive effort necessitated to move the vehicle. The only problem, for the time being of course is this noise. I'm sure we all know that a little noise that is different from normal is a great indication that something is off and aside from it being annoying and a definite head turner as I drive past I'm worried that though there isn't any check engine or transmission lights on or any codes or warnings at all presented that this is just the first of a warning my car is telling me. My Escape (Asher) has 88530 miles on it currently 22. July.23 and sees about 1100 a month due to our residence being a bit out of the city proper. I never officially "play" with my vehicles in that I don't ride them hard or run them over the allotted milage between maintenance needs. I change my oil every 4,000 miles which is 1,000 miles earlier than required. Same goes for changing other parts that are routine. I always change them slightly before what is necessary in the event Iust go the extra distance between maintenance so I have a buffer to get my boy to a shop and not stress or cause damage to him. I must admit that there are a few modifications done because why not. A BOV was added about 3500 miles ago, and the usual that most us kids do. (Subs, 5% tint, HID's, tinted tail and head lights, blacked out rims, low pro tired which I believe are what it comes with anyway) but as far as I or those that have inspected him have concluded, none of those have any responsibility as for the random occurrences to Asher. I recently drove him a bit with a heavy heart as he much like my Explorer (Nate) are my babies. It feels like I'm letting him down though I know it's a car. It's my kiddo, okay? I keep my cars as long as they will allow me to be their companions and love the stories we create together. The memories of great times and places we've gone are immortalized in my memory and when their time comes that they decide they want to go into retirement and check out into the great unknown it saddens me that even though I will always remember our great adventures and the photos to go with, that they are no longer with me. I keep the same thing from each one. It gives me some closure knowing that though they are gone they are still with me in my heart and mind but also in a tangible object set on my shelf to display for those guests that I have over. I keep the radio knob. The accessory I use the most. The beat and voice of our journeys. A remembrance of all those trips spent singing along and riding with a peaceful mind with a friend that sure, wasn't human, still had a voice.