Frequency Matching Explained: Why Generic White Noise Falls Short

If you have tinnitus and have tried white noise apps, you have probably noticed that generic broadband noise has real limitations. It covers every frequency equally, even though your tinnitus lives in a narrow pitch range. Frequency matching is a different approach, one that focuses sound energy where it is actually relevant to your tinnitus pitch.

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Why White Noise Is Usually the First Thing People Try

White noise is easy to find. Every app store has dozens of white noise generators, and they require no setup. For general background sound during sleep or concentration, broadband white noise is straightforward.

When people start using white noise specifically because of tinnitus, the logic seems simple: play a sound that covers up the ringing. And it does work at a basic level; adding external audio to a quiet environment changes the overall sound balance.

But white noise distributes energy equally across the entire audible spectrum. Your tinnitus typically sits in a narrow frequency band. Studies on tinnitus pitch distribution show that 4,000 to 6,000 Hz is the most common range: Nascimento et al. (2018) found 6,000 Hz was the most frequent pitch in 148 patients, while Flores et al. (2015) found an average of 4,000 Hz among those with noise-induced hearing loss. Though it varies from person to person, most of the white noise energy is going to frequencies that are not relevant to your tinnitus pitch.

Limitations of Generic White Noise

It Covers Everything, Targets Nothing

White noise raises the overall noise floor across all frequencies. Think of it as turning up the volume on an entire orchestra to mask one instrument. It works, but it is not precise, and it requires more overall volume than a more targeted approach.

Listening Fatigue

Because white noise contains energy at every frequency, including many that have nothing to do with your tinnitus, prolonged listening can become tiring. A review by Attarha, Bigelow, and Merzenich (2018) in JAMA Otolaryngology argued that prolonged exposure to unstructured broadband noise could engage maladaptive neuroplastic mechanisms, and recommended structured acoustic stimulation over featureless noise. This remains debated in the field, but is worth being aware of.

Volume Creep

When broadband masking is the only approach, there is a natural tendency to increase volume over time as your brain adapts. This can lead to listening at levels that are not ideal for long-term hearing, particularly with earbuds or headphones.

No Customization

Most white noise apps offer a fixed set of sounds with limited or no control over frequency, pitch, or layering. If the preset sounds do not happen to interact well with your particular tinnitus pitch, you have no way to adjust them.

What Frequency Matching Is

Frequency matching is the process of identifying the dominant pitch of your tinnitus, the specific frequency where you perceive the sound most strongly. This is typically done by comparing your tinnitus to a series of reference tones, adjusting pitch until you find a close match.

An audiologist can measure this precisely using calibrated equipment during a tinnitus evaluation. Neff et al. (2019) compared three established pitch matching methods and found intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.63 and 0.69, interpreted as "good reliability." Participants improved across five consecutive matching runs, completing tasks "faster and with better self-rated accuracy" over time. Self-guided pitch matching on mobile devices has also been validated: Wunderlich et al. (2015) found that an iPod-based approach was "feasible and easier in practice without any loss of reliability," and Santacruz et al. (2023) reported that a multiple-choice method achieved ICC values of 0.9 or higher, meeting the standard for clinical decision-making.

One complication is "octave confusion," a common error where patients match to a frequency one octave above or below their actual tinnitus pitch. Henry et al. (2001) developed automated protocols that specifically test for this error.

There is a strong scientific basis for why frequency matching matters. Moore, Vinay, and Sandhya (2010) found a correlation of r = 0.94 between tinnitus pitch matches and the audiometric "edge frequency" (where hearing loss worsens abruptly on an audiogram). This supports the central gain model of tinnitus: when hearing loss reduces input at certain frequencies, the brain compensates by amplifying neural activity in those regions, and the resulting phantom sound sits at the boundary of the hearing loss.

Knowing your approximate tinnitus pitch lets you make more informed decisions about which sounds to use and how to configure them. It is a piece of information, not a prescription.

How Frequency-Specific Masking Differs

Concentrated Sound Energy

When you know your tinnitus pitch, you can choose or configure sounds that concentrate their energy near that frequency. Perez-Carpena et al. (2021) conducted a systematic review and found that pure tones and narrowband noise centred on the individual's tinnitus pitch produced higher residual inhibition rates than broadband noise. Because the sound is focused where it is relevant, less overall volume is needed to change the perceived balance between the tinnitus and the background. This is a straightforward acoustic principle, not a medical claim.

Notched Approaches

Some masking approaches involve removing a narrow frequency band centred on the tinnitus pitch from the audio, creating a "notch." The idea is that sound energy surrounding the tinnitus pitch is present while the tinnitus frequency itself is absent. The original study by Okamoto et al. (2010) in PNAS showed reduced auditory cortex activity and reduced perceived loudness after 12 months of listening to notched music. A recent meta-analysis of 14 randomised controlled trials by Jiang et al. (2025) found that notched music significantly reduced tinnitus disability scores compared to conventional music. This is an active research area, and experiences vary from person to person.

Layering for Variety

The auditory system is built to process complex sound environments. A single tone or uniform noise can become monotonous, and you may stop noticing it, which means you start noticing the tinnitus again. Layered sounds (combining a nature recording with a tonal element near your tinnitus pitch, for example) create a richer audio environment that stays engaging over longer listening sessions.

Precision Control

When you can adjust the pitch, volume, and characteristics of individual sound layers independently, you can fine-tune your sound environment as your tinnitus fluctuates throughout the day. Morning might call for a different configuration than nighttime. A stressful day might call for something different than a calm one.

Why Justin Built a Frequency-Focused Masking Tool

Justin, siasola's founder, has lived with tinnitus since he was 18. He found that generic white noise apps gave him no control over pitch, no ability to layer sounds, and no way to target the specific frequencies relevant to his tinnitus.

He built Siasola Tinnitus Masking Sounds to give himself that control. The app includes a pitch exploration tool, 95+ sounds across multiple categories, a 5-layer mixer with independent volume and pitch controls per layer, and DSP effects for further shaping each sound.

It is a sound customization tool built by someone with tinnitus for the kind of precision control he could not find elsewhere. It is not a medical device and does not claim to produce any specific outcome for tinnitus.

Getting Started

If you have been using generic white noise and want more control, here are some practical steps:

Explore your tinnitus pitch. Use a pitch exploration tool or ask your audiologist to measure it. Even an approximate match gives you more information to work with.

Try different sound types. White noise, pink noise, brown noise, nature sounds, and tonal maskers all have different characteristics. Personal preference matters; there is no universally "correct" sound.

Experiment with layers. Combining multiple sounds can create a more engaging and varied audio environment than a single track.

Adjust over time. Tinnitus can fluctuate. Having the ability to change your sound configuration means you can adapt to how things are on a given day.

Talk to a professional. Sound masking is not a substitute for professional evaluation. If you are experiencing tinnitus, consult an audiologist or healthcare provider.

References

1. Attarha M, Bigelow J, Merzenich MM. Unintended consequences of white noise therapy for tinnitus: otolaryngology's cobra effect: a review. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. 2018;144(10):938-943. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2018.1856

2. Flores LS, Teixeira AR, Rosito LPS, Seimetz BM, Dall'Igna C. Pitch and loudness from tinnitus in individuals with noise-induced hearing loss. International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology. 2015;20(3):248-253. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1562935

3. Henry JA, Flick CL, Gilbert A, Ellingson RM, Fausti SA. Comparison of two computer-automated procedures for tinnitus pitch matching. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. 2001;38(5):557-566. PubMed:11732833

4. Jiang W, Zheng Y, Zheng C, Chen R, Li B. The efficacy of notched music therapy vs conventional music therapy for chronic subjective tinnitus patients. European Archives of Otorhinolaryngology. 2025;282(7):3431-3442. doi:10.1007/s00405-025-09260-9

5. Moore BCJ, Vinay, Sandhya. The relationship between tinnitus pitch and the edge frequency of the audiogram. Hearing Research. 2010;261(1-2):51-56. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2010.01.003

6. Nascimento IP, Almeida AA, Diniz Junior J, et al. Tinnitus evaluation: relationship between pitch matching and loudness, visual analog scale and tinnitus handicap inventory. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 2018;85(5):611-616. doi:10.1016/j.bjorl.2018.05.006

7. Neff P, Langguth B, Schecklmann M, Hannemann R, Schlee W. Comparing three established methods for tinnitus pitch matching. Trends in Hearing. 2019;23:2331216519887247. doi:10.1177/2331216519887247

8. Okamoto H, Stracke H, Stoll W, Pantev C. Listening to tailor-made notched music reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity. PNAS. 2010;107(3):1207-1210. doi:10.1073/pnas.0911268107

9. Perez-Carpena P, Bibas A, Lopez-Escamez JA, Vardonikolaki K, Kikidis D. Systematic review of sound stimulation to elicit tinnitus residual inhibition. Progress in Brain Research. 2021;262:1-21. doi:10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.020

10. Santacruz JL, de Kleine E, van Dijk P. Comparison between two self-guided tinnitus pitch matching methods. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2023;15:1095178. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2023.1095178

11. Wunderlich R, Stein A, Engell A, et al. Evaluation of iPod-based automated tinnitus pitch matching. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2015;26(2):205-212. doi:10.3766/jaaa.26.2.9

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siasola Tinnitus Masking Sounds is not a medical device. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Individual experiences vary. Consult a healthcare provider for medical concerns related to tinnitus.