Who among us does not seek a sound sleep, relaxation, and a more productive life away from the surrounding noise and various distractions? Have you ever played quiet sounds such as the sound of a waterfall, or the sound of an electric device while you are doing work that requires concentration, or before you go to sleep? These sounds are called white noise, what is it? And what are its benefits? And does it really help with relaxation and sleep? Read the following lines for more details.

What is white noise?

White noise, also called white noise, is low, medium, and high frequency sounds of the same pitch.

Sound waves are measured in two units: “frequency”, which refers to the speed of vibration of waves per second, and is measured in Hertz, and “amplitude”, or strength, which refers to the size of waves and is measured in decibels.

The relationship between the frequency and amplitude of sound waves is used to figure out the “color” of noise, which it shares with properties of light waves. To produce white noise, every frequency a human can hear is played at the same amplitude, which results in the sound of distortion, which is the same sound you hear when switching from one station to another on radio or television, just like white light is made up of all wavelengths of other colours. Therefore, it is believed that white noise consists of different frequencies.

As for what is called the term “black noise”, it means absolute silence.

White noise sound examples

In addition to the radio sound mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are many other sounds such as:

• fan sound.
• The voice of counseling.
• The sound of the refrigerator.
• The sound of the broom.
• The sound of the air conditioner.

Health benefits of white noise

The benefits of white noise appear in that it helps cover the surrounding sounds, which helps relaxation and treats some problems, as follows:

White noise for sleep

In a study conducted in 2021, it was found that the use of white noise sounds improved the ability to sleep for people who suffer from difficulties as a result of noise from the surrounding environment, and the researchers concluded that the use of these sounds may be beneficial for sleep, especially in urban areas, and for people living near roads and crowds .

The researchers also found that it not only helps sleep, but also helps to maintain it. Loud sounds such as slamming a door may not necessarily cause you to wake up from sleep because they are loud. Rather, the change in the consistency of the sounds from low to loud may be strong enough to interrupt sleep. White noise creates a blanket of sound that covers up sudden changes in sounds, so it can be useful for people who don’t like sleeping in a completely silent environment.

In addition, it can help people who work evening shifts and need to sleep in the morning.

White noise for babies and children

This type of sound encourages babies to sleep as well as helps adults sleep.

In a study published in 1990, I found that white noise is beneficial for infants and newborns, as this study was based on 40 children, and found that about 80% of these children fell asleep after about 5 minutes of listening to the sounds of white noise.

White noise for tinnitus

This technique may be used as one of the therapeutic methods for tinnitus under the name “sound therapy”, which is the use of external sounds to help the patient change his perception of tinnitus, or his reaction to it. It does not cure tinnitus, but helps reduce its severity by covering the sound either completely or partially.

Help focus

In addition to the previous benefits, sounds emanating from white noise can be used to focus on tasks that require intense attention, and there are many studies conducted in this regard, especially on ADHD patients, whether adults or children.

How do I get white noise?

There are many available sources from which these votes can be obtained, including:

• Surrounding sounds.
• White noise machines, which are specially designed for this purpose.
• You can search for white noise app on mobile phone.
• Various audio or video sources from the Internet.

White noise damage

Despite its benefits, care must be taken to adjust the sound volume emanating from the white noise machine, or from other sources, especially when used with children. In a 2014 study, it was found that high sound levels may cause hearing damage in infants, and they may It affects some aspects of development such as speech or language, so the following must be taken into account when adjusting the sound source:

• Set the lowest pitch that can be used.
• Run it for short periods of time.
• Considering that there is a sufficient distance between the source of the sound and the sleeping child.
• The sound source can be turned off once the baby is asleep.

With regard to adults, the sound amplitude should not exceed 70, as the sources indicate, as sounds higher than 85 may cause hearing damage over time.

The difference between white noise and pink noise

As we’ve shown you, white noise uses a mixture of frequencies of sounds to create one steady sound, and it can be intense, high-pitched like a fan or a vacuum cleaner.

As for pink noise, it uses a fixed frequency or tones to create a harmonious, flat sound such as the sound of continuous rain, the sound of tree leaves with the wind, or the sound of waves. Helps to relax.