As one might imagine, high-frequency tinnitus, commonly identified as ringing or buzzing in the ears, is one of the most awful presentiments; it provokes in the complete absence of sounds. Unlike the soft hum some people get, its shriller quality makes it that much harder to ignore, disturbing sleep, focus, and peace.
Since tinnitus is always a multi-causal disorder and does not have an all-comprising remedy, some measures are better targeted at high-pitched tinnitus. This article examines which of these are effective, why they work, and how you can obtain relief.
High-Frequency Audio Masking
So what’s the go-to for high-pitched tinnitus? Well, that would be audio masking, quite simply using external sounds to drown out or distract from the noise. And for high tones, Dacnoff states, “both white noise and pink noise are effective solutions.” But what’s the difference? Basically, white noise, because it’s an equal-energy racket across all frequencies, also blankets that sharp ring. Pink noise is slightly deeper and just softens its edge. Now ask yourself why that works: your brain learns to ignore the pseudo-noise and focuses on the tinnitus instead. One of them is a 2020 study published in Hearing Research which noted that 65% of high-pitched tinnitus respondents found relief through custom-tailored masking. Try some testing with different frequencies and see if you get different results; for example, you could try “Offline High-Frequency White Noise” for tinnitus masking therapy from audioman.co.uk.
Audio Noise Notch Filter for Tinnitus Masking
A promising approach is the so-called notched filter sound therapy, which basically means listening to sound with a ‘notch’ taken out at your tinnitus frequency - for example, 8 kHz if that’s the tone you’ve got. Over time, it trains your brain to ignore that pitch. Research from the Journal of Neuroscience (2019) deemed it capable of reducing tinnitus loudness 20-30% after several weeks of use. Fairly technical, albeit doable by application or custom audio files (such as those you can make up from the audioman.co.uk’s library). Take a hearing test to find an exact match in your pitch. You could also try the frequency generator on the Audioman downloads library page.
High-pitched tinnitus is most evident in silence so that adding ambient sound may help. A running fan, soft music, or even a clock ticking can help obscure the noise. At night, when tinnitus is most disturbing, a sleep sound machine with nature sounds like crickets or waves can make a difference for the same reason: it confuses your auditory system about focusing on the ‘real’’ ringing in your ears. Portable downloads from Audioman.co.uk are an effective means of relief minus Wi-Fi.
Opting Out Of Balance
Stress makes tinnitus worse, particularly sensitivity-related high-pitched varieties. The brain’s ‘fight or flight’ response can be lowered by such techniques as mindfulness or deep breathing, thereby lessening perception. A 2021 ENT Journal study associated the reduction in stress with a 40% tinnitus distress drop. Masking Combined with a One-Two Punch.
Your hearing aids tuned with amplification for external sounds in such cases of high-pitched tinnitus where hearing loss presents may actually naturally mask it. An audiologist may recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help reframe your reaction to the sound.
Begin by going through masking high frequency sounds from the audioman.co.uk collection, as it is an inexpensive, immediate step you can try right now. You could also try notched therapy or stress relief as needed. High-pitched tinnitus can be quite intractable, but with trial and error relief could be within reach. What’s your pitch like - shrill or subtle? - go through some samples on the tinnitus audio masking library page of this site and see if there is a download that works for you and targets the specific frequency of your tinnitus.
