Using White Noise Generators to Mask Tinnitus
Hello John,
Thank you for the helpful reminders concerning the use of Ipods and MP3 players. You’re absolutely right, of course. These devices are real assets when used properly, but when they are turned up too loud they become real liabilities.
The reason I’m writing is to ask about something else regarding iPods and MP3 players. I was wondering if it is recommendable to use these devices for tinnitus masking purposes? I’ve come across several websites that advertise white noise and other sounds that can be downloaded in MP3 format and which can then be transferred to one’s iPod for listening on the go.
Audiologists also provide such devices to tinnitus patients, calling them “white noise sound generators” (WSG). These are state of the art devices and they are customized for each user. The only problem is that they are prohibitively expensive. So for masking purposes I was wondering if in your view the WSG’s could well be the equivalent of MP3 players?
You may have concluded I’m a believer in sound therapy as being an effective treatment modality for subjective tinnitus. Indeed, I subscribe to the principles of using sound therapy/enrichment as explained by Jasterboff andHaskel in their neuro-physiological model for tinnitus.
This is not to say I automatically discount the effects of homeopathic or other remedies. However for the time being I am giving sound therapy a go, and so I was wondering if you would be good enough to answer my questions above, concerning the use of iPods and white noise (low broadband) versus the use of the WSG’s.
Thank you for your website and its always informative tips and suggestions regarding tinnitus. I appreciate and admire you for all your selfless support, outreach and encouragement for those of us who experience tinnitus.
Peter Rossner
Montreal, Canada
Hello Peter,
We have many thousands of clients who believe in, and indeed find temporary relief from tinnitus using white noise to mask those continual tinnitus noises. They use it to get to sleep at night, to concentrate while reading or simply to forget the noise for a while while they are working.
I am of the opinion that most of these really expensive devices are simply a waste of time and money and that they same could be achieved using the WSGs as you call them or even the many white noise CDs and MP3s that are available. Indeed we sometimes battle to keep up with the supply of our white noise masking CDs .
Some of these devices cost as much as $3,500 and are really little more than a glorified MP3 player preloaded with white noise “tailored” to suit your profile. Prior to releasing our CDs last year we did extensive surveys regarding tinnitus masking using white noise. It really is popular but provides only short term relief of tinnitus, a fact I am sure you are aware of.
You could for instance, buy some white noise masking CDs , copy them to your MP3 player and probably get just as much temporary relief as one of those expensive devices will provide. Indeed I have yet to hear of anyone who has got lasting relief from using these devices and we have in excess of 40,000 visitors to the site each month.
Hope this helps to clarify your thinking and thanks for the kind comments:)
John Currie
