How does white noise work?

Answer 1

Life is full of disruptive sounds and noises, such as honking car horns, barking dogs, noisy neighbors, annoying snoring and screaming sirens. Unlike playing music in such instances, white noise does not add to the clamor of noise. Instead, white noise contains equal frequencies of all sounds. Research has shown that a steady, monotonous stream of the same peaceful sound, such as white noise, can filter and mask distracting noises. The same soothing sonic benefits of white noise are quite effective in creating the right ambience for both parent and child to enable a safe yet natural sleep. Among their recommendations for alleviating tinnitus symptoms, many audiologists and the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery suggest masking the ringing sound: play a competing sound at a constant low level, such white noise, to mask the tinnitus and make it less noticeable. The Hyperacusis Network notes that "White noise contains all frequencies, and therefore very gently stimulates all the nerve cells in the these subconscious networks, allowing them to be more easily programmed, or reset, so that tinnitus signals are no longer detected. It also reduces the contrast between tinnitus and otherwise total silence." Fromhttp://www.PureWhiteNoise.com