Noticing in complete silence I spike but going back to white noise drops it back to baseline hmm
Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Not for every case, but for many cases… I think it may go back to our brain/ears are looking for sound, especially in cases like mine where there was a SSHL. It's lost that input, therefore it has turned itself up (central gain theory) and creates the noise to "compensate" for what is no longer.
In silence, it does this more as there is no sound to focus on coming in, therefore T may be perceived or actually get louder. With low, constant ambient noise, we are giving our ears and brain more input. Contemplating starting pink or brown noise soon.
@ErikaS i 100% agree. I tested it also I went from white noise to silence and I could actually hear the volume of my tones increase every few minutes until it felt like a spike. Then going back to white noise it decreased. I think the white noise matches my frequency so it counter-reacts it
It doesn't completely cancel out my tones but it gets my brain enough distraction to re-focus my attention to other things. So the ringing kinda goes to the background like a fridge or AC
@Sammy0225 Right exactly, this is what happens when my fridge comes on or if I play ACRN beeps. helps not only blend/mix some without exacerbating, but also not be front and center as it is with silence, obviously.
I know Dr. Carson/Treble Health is controversial, but just this morning he posted on Instagram how soft sound therapy playing throughout the night is helpful with habituation because upon waking up, ears and brain will process those sounds and reduce perception of tinnitus first thing in AM.
Just this week, I experimented w/ this because I have been sleeping in pretty much quiet for quite some time and I have noticed a significant increase in my T in the AM and overall increased sensitivity. With colder weather, I ran my baseboard heating at night that has a constant low level sound. My T does react to it going to bed, but not horribly and I am able to fall asleep.