Brown noise for tinnitus
Brown noise is deep, rumbling noise whose energy falls about 6 dB per octave, like distant thunder or a jet cabin. It is popular for relaxing and sleep. For tinnitus it blends best with low humming or buzzing. For high-pitched ringing, try pink or white noise, or layer brown noise under a brighter sound.
Start quiet and stay below the level of your tinnitus, or just at it. If a sound is uncomfortable, stop. Headphones work best for the notch filter.
How to use it
- Press Play to start brown noise.
- Set the master volume low and comfortable.
- If your tinnitus is high-pitched, add pink or white noise quietly on top.
- Use the sleep timer if you are listening in bed.
Brown noise vs. pink and white noise
Brown noise (also called red or Brownian noise) puts most of its energy in the low frequencies, falling about 6 dB per octave. Pink noise falls 3 dB per octave and white noise is flat. So brown is the darkest of the three, pink sits in the middle, and white is the brightest.
Does brown noise help tinnitus?
Because it has little energy at high pitches, brown noise does not cover a typical 4,000 to 8,000 Hz ring very well. Many people still like it because it is calming and pleasant, and a relaxed state can make tinnitus less bothersome. If you want it to blend with high tinnitus, layer it with a brighter sound.
Frequently asked questions
Is brown noise good for high-pitched tinnitus?
On its own, usually not, because it has little high-frequency energy. Layer it under pink or white noise, or try those instead.
Why do people like brown noise for sleep?
Its low, steady rumble is soothing and hides sudden household noises without sounding sharp.
How loud should the sound be?
Quieter than you think. Set it just below the level of your tinnitus, or at the point where the two start to blend, so you can still hear both. Fully drowning out tinnitus is not the goal, and long sessions at high volume can damage hearing.
Sources
- Tunkel DE, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 2014.
- Sereda M, et al. Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018.
Last reviewed by the TinnitusBuddy team.
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