White Noise: An Overlooked Sleep Aid
Anyone who has trouble getting a good night's rest knows how important sleep is. Quality sleep is necessary for health, productivity, and happiness. While there are many factors that contribute toward good sleep, one frequently overlooked solution to subpar sleep is the use of 'white noise'. White noise is any steady, repetitive background noise (in technical terms a sound that contains all frequencies). White noise can be used to drown out the smaller ambient noises that disturb sleep. It is chiefly valuable for improving the sleep of those with minor trouble sleeping, though it may also be part the solution for those with a more serious sleep dysfunction. Presented here is an explanation of how white noise works, a description of how it is useful, and a guide to how it can be produced.
The idea of using more noise to get better sleep might seem paradoxical or counter-intuitive. The theory behind the use of white noise as a sleep aid is that a moderately loud -- but steady and unobtrusive -- sound is preferable to sharp, irregular, jarring noises. A person isn't disturbed by a loud noise itself, but by the abrupt change from silence to noise. If white noise is available, then loud, sudden sounds (like a dog barking, or a car horn) will be masked, and a person will continue sleeping undisturbed. The regular background sound of white noise blends the harmful, sleep-disturbing noise into itself, raising significantly the threshold that a sound must reach to wake you.
White noise is also found by many people to be relaxing and soothing, so much so that some use it for meditation. Since stress and worry frequently contribute to difficulty sleeping, this relaxing effect can further add to the value of white noise. Some people use white noise even before they go to bed, as a means of calming themselves down before trying to sleep.
You should consider using white noise if you have trouble falling asleep, or if you wake up frequently during the night -- though even those who sleep well may find white noise increases the quality of their sleep. White noise can also aid sufferers of tinnitus, a condition in which an irritating ringing is heard in the ears. Parents with newborns may find white noise helps their child sleep, as infants are highly sensitive to loud, jarring sounds -- though its use should be limited, since babies need to hear varied sounds for brain development.
However, remember that white noise is valuable for boosting quality of sleep, not solving major sleep problems. If you have severe insomnia or another major sleep dysfunction, contact a specialist in sleep medicine -- white noise may help, but will probably not resolve your condition alone. For the rest of us, white noise is likely to improve our sleep -- virtually no one sleeps perfectly every night. If you have any difficulties, try white noise.
How do you get white sound?
There are a number of ways. First of all, there are commercial options, such as standalone white noise machines. These devices generally have a variety of different sorts of sounds to choose from, as well as other advanced settings -- such as the ability to self-adjust volume in relation to the level of ambient noise, or the capacity to play non-looping, pattern-free sounds. Some machines are designed for specific purposes, such a putting infants to sleep. Most white noise machines cost between $20 and $45 dollars, though budget or top-of-the-line devices may fall outside this range. If you are thinking of buying a white noise machine, then we recommend the DOHM-DS Natural White Noise Sound Machine that can be purchased on Amazon. White noise CDs are also available at a low cost.
White noise is also available for free, via a number of means. A fan provides a whirring, regular hum that blocks out obtrusive noise (and is also useful for increasing air circulation and keeping you cool). A radio can be tuned to a frequency without a station, providing a steady background static-- though radio signals are prone to interference which may disturb the static's regularity. An enormous variety of white noises can be found on the internet, playable on either a computer or a phone. Smart phones can also use one of the many available white noise apps. The advantage of these digital solutions is the extensive choice available -- whether you want the sound of rain, a flowing stream, or even the roar of an airplane's engines, the thousands of available choices guarantee you will be able to find what you're looking for.
White noise won't work for everyone. Some people are so sensitive to noise that even the mild sound of white noise will be enough to disturb them. Others, for whom loud sounds have little effect, will gain no benefit from white noise's tempering effects. However, if you don't fall into these categories, the chances are excellent that white noise will provide you with a better night's sleep. Good sleep is a necessity -- and white noise a fantastic way to get that good sleep.
Recommended Natural White Noise Generator Machine:
The Dohm-DS Natural White Noise Generator Machine effectively masks unwanted noises and creates a calming sound environment, making it easier to concentrate, relax, or get some serious sleep. Dohm produces the soothing 'shushhh' sound of rushing air without the disturbance of actual moving air. It consists of a compact adjustable acoustic housing surrounding a two-speed electric motor with a unique asymmetrical fan, for greater flexibility in tone and volume.
The Dohm-DS white noise generator machine can be purchased on Amazon.com.
Click here to buy the DOHM-DS Natural White Noise Sound Machine
The idea of using more noise to get better sleep might seem paradoxical or counter-intuitive. The theory behind the use of white noise as a sleep aid is that a moderately loud -- but steady and unobtrusive -- sound is preferable to sharp, irregular, jarring noises. A person isn't disturbed by a loud noise itself, but by the abrupt change from silence to noise. If white noise is available, then loud, sudden sounds (like a dog barking, or a car horn) will be masked, and a person will continue sleeping undisturbed. The regular background sound of white noise blends the harmful, sleep-disturbing noise into itself, raising significantly the threshold that a sound must reach to wake you.
White noise is also found by many people to be relaxing and soothing, so much so that some use it for meditation. Since stress and worry frequently contribute to difficulty sleeping, this relaxing effect can further add to the value of white noise. Some people use white noise even before they go to bed, as a means of calming themselves down before trying to sleep.
You should consider using white noise if you have trouble falling asleep, or if you wake up frequently during the night -- though even those who sleep well may find white noise increases the quality of their sleep. White noise can also aid sufferers of tinnitus, a condition in which an irritating ringing is heard in the ears. Parents with newborns may find white noise helps their child sleep, as infants are highly sensitive to loud, jarring sounds -- though its use should be limited, since babies need to hear varied sounds for brain development.
However, remember that white noise is valuable for boosting quality of sleep, not solving major sleep problems. If you have severe insomnia or another major sleep dysfunction, contact a specialist in sleep medicine -- white noise may help, but will probably not resolve your condition alone. For the rest of us, white noise is likely to improve our sleep -- virtually no one sleeps perfectly every night. If you have any difficulties, try white noise.
How do you get white sound?
There are a number of ways. First of all, there are commercial options, such as standalone white noise machines. These devices generally have a variety of different sorts of sounds to choose from, as well as other advanced settings -- such as the ability to self-adjust volume in relation to the level of ambient noise, or the capacity to play non-looping, pattern-free sounds. Some machines are designed for specific purposes, such a putting infants to sleep. Most white noise machines cost between $20 and $45 dollars, though budget or top-of-the-line devices may fall outside this range. If you are thinking of buying a white noise machine, then we recommend the DOHM-DS Natural White Noise Sound Machine that can be purchased on Amazon. White noise CDs are also available at a low cost.
White noise is also available for free, via a number of means. A fan provides a whirring, regular hum that blocks out obtrusive noise (and is also useful for increasing air circulation and keeping you cool). A radio can be tuned to a frequency without a station, providing a steady background static-- though radio signals are prone to interference which may disturb the static's regularity. An enormous variety of white noises can be found on the internet, playable on either a computer or a phone. Smart phones can also use one of the many available white noise apps. The advantage of these digital solutions is the extensive choice available -- whether you want the sound of rain, a flowing stream, or even the roar of an airplane's engines, the thousands of available choices guarantee you will be able to find what you're looking for.
White noise won't work for everyone. Some people are so sensitive to noise that even the mild sound of white noise will be enough to disturb them. Others, for whom loud sounds have little effect, will gain no benefit from white noise's tempering effects. However, if you don't fall into these categories, the chances are excellent that white noise will provide you with a better night's sleep. Good sleep is a necessity -- and white noise a fantastic way to get that good sleep.
Recommended Natural White Noise Generator Machine:
The Dohm-DS Natural White Noise Generator Machine effectively masks unwanted noises and creates a calming sound environment, making it easier to concentrate, relax, or get some serious sleep. Dohm produces the soothing 'shushhh' sound of rushing air without the disturbance of actual moving air. It consists of a compact adjustable acoustic housing surrounding a two-speed electric motor with a unique asymmetrical fan, for greater flexibility in tone and volume.
The Dohm-DS white noise generator machine can be purchased on Amazon.com.
Click here to buy the DOHM-DS Natural White Noise Sound Machine
