Tinnitus Masking Protocols

Tinnitus management rarely involves a "cure." Instead, clinical sound therapy focuses on habituation—training the auditory cortex to filter out the phantom perception.

1. Broadband Noise Masking

Using white, pink, or brown noise to raise the ambient sound floor, reducing the contrast between the environment and the tinnitus perception.

• White Noise: Equal energy per frequency. Often perceived as too harsh/hissing by patients.
• Pink Noise: Equal energy per octave. Sounds deeper, often preferred for sleep.
• Brown Noise: Faster roll-off of high frequencies. Resembles a deep rumble.

2. Notched Audio Therapy

A specialized protocol where the patient's exact tinnitus frequency is identified (matched). Then, ambient music or noise is played with that specific frequency band "notched" (removed) using a parametric EQ.

The Theory: By stimulating the surrounding auditory neurons while starving the hyperactive neurons responsible for the tinnitus, lateral inhibition occurs, potentially reducing the volume of the phantom sound over months of therapy.