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| source: flickr.com |
Every tinnitus sufferer knows: it is good to avoid silence. Sound masking is method of tinnitus therapy that consists of playing various masker sounds or masker noises, which work as covering or partial suppressing or drowning ringing in the ears or other tinnitus noise. While hearing to masking sounds and noises, concentration and perception of sufferer is turned to more pleasing sounds and thus providing him temporary relief (although not completely stopping tinnitus).
Results of this method are not big, but it works and that is enough. No surprise, for tinnitus pioneer Jean Itard already in 1821 suggested “noisy machines that are set off by clockwork or the sound of water streaming into a copper basin”.
Tinnitus masker sounds and masker noises
Common masker sounds or noises that could bring partial relief, are these:
- white noise (high pitched), pink noise (medium pitched) and brown noise (low pitched)
- reproduction of various soothing sounds of nature (ocean sounds, sound of flowing water, wind sound, soft rain sound, cicada or locust sounds)
- relaxing and meditation sounds and music compositions
How to generate masking sounds and masking noises
Frequently used are following masking sound and noise generators:
- radio interference (tuned between two stations with low volume)
- indoor water fountain
- room fan
- various software applications for sound generation
- hearing aids or devices with sound masking functions
Additionally you can use your favorite music or radio playing softly on background.
Sound masking software, masking hearing aids, masking devices
Regarding the software applications I want to say that one can find several such applications (for desktop computers or for mobile devices), some of them really amateurish or even harmful. I think that it is better to pay more for good software or to buy professional masking device or hearing aid (it costs more than software) or go to local audiology center (it costs even more). But good software could do the job for fair price.
