Interactive Tinnitus Pitch Matcher & Notch Therapy Lab
Sweep the frequency slider between 250 Hz and 14,000 Hz at low volume (20–25%) to match your ringing pitch, verify one octave up/down, and launch 1-octave notched pink noise therapy.
1. Select Probe Waveform
2. Select Acoustic Therapy Mode
1-octave notch filter centered at 4000 Hz (2828–5657 Hz removed from pink noise).
Understanding subjective tinnitus and sound therapy
Subjective tinnitus—hearing a ringing, whistling, cicada-like buzz or hiss when no external sound is present—usually arises when cochlear hair cells in a specific frequency region lose sensitivity. In response to reduced input from the inner ear, neurons in the central auditory cortex increase their spontaneous firing rate and decrease lateral inhibition around the affected frequency. Silence makes this internal signal stand out starkly because your auditory system turns up its central "gain" when the room is quiet.
The mindspeace Tinnitus tool provides two evidence-informed acoustic approaches directly in your browser: broadband/narrowband sound enrichment (masking) to reduce the contrast between tinnitus and silence, and Tailor-Made Notched Noise, which removes a one-octave band centred on your matched tinnitus pitch.
Step-by-step: how to match your tinnitus frequency accurately
- 1 · Start in a quiet room at low volume: Put on comfortable headphones, open the Tinnitus panel and set the Probe volume slider to 20–25%. Never match pitch at a loud volume.
- 2 · Choose Pure Tone or Narrow Noise: If your tinnitus sounds like a clean whistle or laser-like ring, select Pure tone. If it sounds like a rushing hiss, steam or cicadas, select Narrow noise.
- 3 · Sweep the frequency slider slowly: Click Play probe and drag the frequency slider until the external tone seems to match the pitch inside your ears. Most tonal tinnitus falls between 3,000 Hz and 9,000 Hz.
- 4 · Perform the Octave Confusion Check: Once you find a close match (for example 4,000 Hz), click the +1 octave button (8,000 Hz) and −1 octave button (2,000 Hz). In clinical audiology, patients frequently mistake a tone one octave below their true tinnitus pitch for the actual pitch. Pick whichever octave matches most closely.
- 5 · Switch off the probe and start therapy: Stop the probe tone, choose Notched noise or Masking, and set the therapy volume to the mixing point—just below the perceived loudness of your tinnitus.
Notched noise vs. masking noise: which should you choose?
| Therapy Mode | How the Signal Is Filtered | Neuroacoustic Goal | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notched noise | Broadband pink/white spectrum with a steep 1-octave band-reject filter centred on ftinnitus | Stimulates neighbouring frequency neurons to strengthen lateral inhibition onto hyperactive tinnitus neurons (Okamoto et al., 2010) | Clear, steady tonal tinnitus (whistle/ringing) where a single dominant hertz value can be matched |
| Masking noise | Smooth band-shaped noise enveloping the matched frequency region | Reduces signal-to-noise contrast and facilitates habituation (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy / TRT mixing-point principle) | Hissing, multi-tone or fluctuating tinnitus, or immediate relief when trying to fall asleep |
| Environmental layering | Combining rain, ocean waves, pink noise or crickets | Provides rich, non-repetitive acoustic texture so the brain stops monitoring the internal sound | All-day background work and overnight sleep soundscapes |
Why "mixing point" volume matters more than drowning it out
Early tinnitus maskers in the 1970s attempted to completely drown out ringing with loud static. Modern audiology—particularly Jastreboff's neurophysiological model—recommends setting sound therapy slightly below or right at the edge of your tinnitus loudness (the mixing point). If you completely cover the tinnitus with loud noise, your brain cannot habituate to the signal, and your ears may feel fatigued when you turn the sound off. Keeping the volume gentle lets the ringing blend into a calm background texture.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it so easy to confuse 4,000 Hz with 8,000 Hz during pitch matching?
When a frequency doubles (one octave), every second wave peak aligns in phase. The human auditory cortex groups octave-related pitches into the same pitch class, which is why checking +1 octave and −1 octave is standard clinical practice.
What if my tinnitus sounds like crickets or high hiss rather than a pure ring?
Switch the Probe toggle from Pure tone to Narrow noise, or open the Sounds panel and blend Crickets, Rain and Blue/Pink noise at a low volume.
How long does notched sound therapy take to show an effect?
Masking provides immediate perceptual relief while playing. Studies on Tailor-Made Notched Sound Therapy typically evaluate daily listening sessions of 1 to 2 hours over several weeks or months, and individual outcomes vary.
Can playing sound therapy too loud make tinnitus spike?
Yes. Excessive volume can cause temporary auditory fatigue or reactive tinnitus spikes. Always start with the slider low and keep total loudness comfortable.
When should I see an ENT doctor or audiologist immediately?
Consult a physician or audiologist promptly if your tinnitus starts suddenly, occurs in only one ear, pulses in time with your heartbeat (pulsatile tinnitus), or is accompanied by dizziness or hearing loss.