Sound masking for tinnitus
Tinnitus is usually loudest in silence, because there is nothing else for your hearing to hold on to. Adding quiet, neutral sound to a room gives attention somewhere else to rest, which is why sound is one of the standard tools in tinnitus management and why so many people run something in the background at night.
This mix pairs broadband white noise with a low bed of ocean, and it is built to sit at a low level. The common instinct is to turn masking sound up until the ringing disappears; most clinicians suggest the opposite — a level where the tinnitus and the sound coexist, so your hearing gradually stops treating the ringing as the only signal in the room.
Night is when it matters most. The sleep timer fades the mix out slowly rather than cutting it, so the return to silence is not the thing that wakes you, and nothing has to be touched once you are settled.
Adjust the balance in the mixer: more white noise if your tinnitus is high-pitched and steady, more ocean if you find flat noise hard to tolerate for long stretches.
Frequently asked questions
Does white noise help with tinnitus?
Many people find that background sound makes tinnitus less intrusive, and sound therapy is a recognised part of tinnitus management. It does not cure or remove tinnitus — it changes how much of your attention the ringing takes up. Reactions vary a lot, so treat it as something to try rather than something guaranteed to work.
What sound is best for tinnitus?
Something broadband, constant and unremarkable. White noise, rain and ocean are the usual choices because they cover a wide range of frequencies without any melody or sudden peaks. What matters more than the exact sound is that you find it comfortable enough to leave on for hours.
How loud should tinnitus masking be?
Low — around the level where you can still hear your tinnitus alongside the sound rather than instead of it. Turning it up until the ringing vanishes tends to be counterproductive, and loud sound over long periods is its own risk. If in doubt, err quiet.
Can I use it all night?
Many people do, at a low volume through a speaker rather than headphones. If you prefer not to, the sleep timer fades the mix out gradually so the silence does not arrive abruptly.
Should I see a doctor about tinnitus?
Yes — especially if it is new, only in one ear, pulsing in time with your heartbeat, or comes with hearing loss or dizziness. This is a sound player, not a medical device, and it is no substitute for an audiologist or a doctor who can look at the underlying cause.