Different types of sounds work better for different activities. Whether it’s working, studying, sleeping or simply trying to relax, there is a sound out there for every scenario. Currys recently partnered with Professor of Psychology at Goldsmith University, London, Joydeep Bhattacharya, and sleep expert Dr. Lindsay Browning, to develop a tool that directs you to the perfect sound whatever your goal.
Concentration, working and studying
To improve concentration, brown or white noise can help. Brown or white noise playlists and video content can be found online, however, real life examples can include sounds such as thunder, rainfall on a tin roof and the stream of a waterfall (brown noise), as well as radio or television static and a whirring fan or a hairdryer (white noise).
Professor Joydeep Bhattacharya said:
“Recent research shows that white noise in the background leads to enhanced cognitive performance in terms of maintaining attention, task performance, higher creativity and lower stress levels in a workplace setting. Importantly, this enhancement was found when noise was presented at 45 dB, but not at the 65 dB level.
White noise might be more effective for tasks requiring sustained attention and memory processes and for individuals with low arousal levels.”
Sleep
Dr. Lindsay Browning, psychologist, neuroscientist and sleep expert at Trouble Sleeping, said:
“It has been suggested that listening to background noise, such as pink noise, during the night can be helpful for people with insomnia. This is because, if your sleep is disturbed by external noises waking you up, such as from a barking dog or police sirens, then playing background noise can help to mask those noise interruptions.
Pink noise is a background sound which is more pleasant to listen to than white noise because it contains quieter high frequency sounds which some people can find shrill.”
Relaxing sounds for Tinnitus
For those experiencing Tinnitus, the persistent symptoms, most commonly hearing a ringing, hissing or buzzing sound from no external source, can be extremely triggering and stressful to deal with. There are various methods to provide relief from Tinnitus, one of which is the use of white noise and sound therapy.
Hannah Samuels, audiologist at Boots Hearingcare said: “Some sounds can irritate us for a short period, but if you have hyperacusis (sensitivity to normal sounds) or tinnitus, it can be much worse. Tinnitus can be aggravated by sudden or prolonged loud sounds such as machinery, music or even a car journey.”
“Most people with tinnitus find that it can be temporarily reduced using the distraction method with things like a ticking clock, sound generator or hearing aids, which often come with dedicated tinnitus maskers built in.”
“For issues like tinnitus, you can help your brain distract and retrain by using white noise. Listening to white noise allows you to take your mind to an external sound, tuning out from the tinnitus and shifting your focus elsewhere.”