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Have you ever been in a situation where it is too loud to fall asleep? The sound of your neighbors upstairs constantly arguing or the continuous honking of cars outside keeps you up at night. This is where sleeping with sleep sounds much as white noise can be beneficial for you. Keep reading and discover all the benefits and some free sounds for listening.
What Is White Noise?
Simply put, white noise is a combination of all the sound frequencies humans can hear, such as the sounds of a whirring fan, radio, or television static. It is often seen as an umbrella term for noise colors such as pink noise, brown noise, green noise, and more.
Technically speaking, the sound is measured by “frequency” in hertz, which refers to how fast the waves vibrate per second. While “amplitude” refers to the size of the waves which is usually measured in decibels. The relationship between the frequency and amplitude of a sound wave is used to define different “colors” of noise.
White noise is the noise that contains equal amplitude per frequency. The actual sound of white noise is typically described as a hissing sound, similar to the sound of the letters “sh” in the word “hush.”
Here are some examples of white noise:
- whirring fan
- radio or television static
- hissing radiator
- humming air conditioner
Comparison to brown noise and pink noise
In comparison to brown noise and pink noise, white noise is more effective at masking a wide range of sounds, as it produces a balanced mix of high, mid, and low frequencies.
Brown noise, also called red noise, focuses more on lower frequencies, creating a deeper sound that sounds like thunder rumbling in the distance. It is often preferred by those who find high-pitched sounds too distracting.
Similarly, pink noise also creates deeper sounds that many may find more pleasant and less harsh compared to white noise. It is often described as similar to a steady rainfall or the blowing wind.
Ultimately, all of these noises can help to improve sleep quality. The choice between the different noise colors often comes down to your personal preference.
Free White Noise Audios For Listening
To help you get a better idea of how white noise sounds like, we have included some examples that ranging from the sounds of rain, fan and radio. Feel free to try out these different audios to help you focus on working or studying or you can even use it to help you relax and fall asleep.
Why Do I Sleep Better With Noise?
It is found that our sense of hearing still works when we sleep. Sleeping with white noise can improve our sleep quality by creating a sound masking effect.
Think about the loud noises from cars or heavy doors slamming that can easily wake us up at night. White noise can help to block this background noise and create a peaceful environment so that people fall asleep much more easily.
Sleeping with white noise may also have other benefits such as:
Promoting deep sleep
White noise helps to maintain a consistent sleep environment and reduce any sudden noise that could wake you up from your sleep. It can also help you to fall asleep faster and allow you to stay in a state of deep sleep for a longer period.
Reducing anxiety
The soothing, continuous sound of white noise can have an extremely calming effect on the brain. This can be useful for those who struggle with symptoms of anxiety and overactive thinking at night. By relaxing and quieting the mind, it helps you to ease into a better night’s sleep.
Helps babies sleep better
White noise can also be great for helping babies to fall asleep at night. Some white noise can mimic the sounds of the womb or a steady heartbeat. This is often comforting for an infant as it reminds them of their mother. Thus, this soothing sound allows them to sleep more soundly.
Helps in creating a consistent sleep routine
It can also help to signal to your brain that it is time to wind down and hit the sack. Using it consistently for a period of time can help create this positive reinforcement, making it easier for you to fall asleep consistently at the same time. This is beneficial especially when you are in an unfamiliar sleeping environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, white noise is a good sleep aid that can help us with getting better sleep at night by mainly drowning out loud, background noises. If you are looking to overcome poor sleep quality, using white noise apps with sleep sounds can be the solution.
Check out ShutEye® app, a white noise app solution with sleep-tracking features to help you kickstart your journey to a good night’s sleep.
