‘Brown’ Is the New ‘White’ Noise

Brown noise is having a moment.

This past summer, people with ADHD began posting videos online of their reactions to hearing brown noise for the first time. On YouTube, brown noise videos have been viewed millions of times, and Spotify has playlists featuring the sound.

Wondering what all the fuss is about? Like white noise, brown noise contains all the frequencies of sound that the human ear can hear, but it has a lower, deeper quality that some people have found alleviates their stress, sharpens their focus and lulls them to sleep.¹

What the Research Says

Studies show that immersive sounds like white, brown and pink noise may help the human brain relax, concentrate or sleep, particularly for people with ADHD.^2,3

However, according to Yamialis Diaz, an assistant professor at NYU Langone Health, brown noise doesn’t necessarily provide better brain-soothing benefits than other colors of noise. “No research suggests that a specific kind of noise is the key. Frequencies can activate and stimulate the brain in different ways,” she noted.⁴

Noise Therapy and Sleep

Although individuals may use noise machines to help them drift off to dreamland, the jury is out on whether doing so results in a better night’s sleep. A 2020 review of 38 studies on white noise found limited evidence that listening to it can improve sleep.⁵

On the other hand, a small study that analyzed the brain waves of individuals who listened to pink noise while sleeping revealed that the participants enjoyed deeper sleep than when they slept without the noise.⁶

And while personal anecdotes via TikTok claim that brown noise is an ideal sleep aid, research on the topic is scarce.

Whether you use noise therapy or not, it’s best to find out the source of your sleeping issues. Center For Hearing’s expert sleep team can help—call (239) 434-0086 to schedule your sleep consultation.

^1,4 Blum, D. (2022). Can brown noise turn off your brain? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/23/well/mind/brown-noise.html

2 Pickens, T. (2019). White noise as a possible therapeutic option for children with ADHD. Complement Ther Med. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30670235/#:~:text

3 Lu, S. (2020). Spectral content (colour) of noise exposure affects work efficiency. Noise Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7986458/

5 Riedy, S. et al. (2021). Noise as a sleep aid: a systemic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079220301283?via%3Dihub

6 Zhou, J. et al. (2012). Pink noise: effect on complexity synchronization of brain activity and sleep consolidation. Journal of Theoretical Biology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022519312001798?via%3Dihub

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The Future of Hearing Devices: Deep Neural Networks & Artificial Intelligence

February 14, 2025

Hearing technology has come a long way over the years; however, one aspect of hearing loss that many hearing aids have difficulty addressing is trouble understanding speech in noise. Fortunately, some of today’s state-of-the-art devices can solve this problem utilizing deep neural networks (DNN) and artificial intelligence (AI). Sensorineural hearing loss causes difficulty understanding speech in background noise. This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells of the inner ear that convert soundwaves into electrical energy, which are then interpreted by the brain. This causes the quality and quantity of the signal sent from the ears to the brain to diminish over time, resulting in the brain expending more energy and effort to make sense of it. DNNs may help improve the transmission of the neural code, making hearing easier on the brain. [1] It’s important to know what DNNs are to understand how they can help. DNNs are a subset of AI. They rapidly analyze large data sets so that they can teach hearing aids and other technological devices how to respond to data like a human would, all while verifying accuracy and making corrections. DNNs are beneficial in hearing technology because they can help with speech enhancement. DNNs can be applied as “time-frequency masks,” meaning select sounds—like speech—are allowed while other sounds are suppressed. DNNs can also identify and separate multiple voices, selecting a primary voice to emphasize and secondary voices to suppress. This feature can help hearing device wearers in a variety of settings. For example, at a restaurant or party, the hearing device can emphasize a conversation partner, allow other nearby voices at a reduced volume and suppress background noises such as dishes clinking. Schedule an appointment to talk to Center for Hearing about our vast state-of-the-art hearing solutions today— (239) 434-0086. [1] Published by Douglas L. Beck. (2021, January 15). Deep neural networks in hearing devices. Retrieved April 2, 2021 from https://www.hearingreview.com/hearing-products/hearing-aids/deep-neural-networks

Startup Aims to Develop the First Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss

February 14, 2025

A Boston biotech startup is attempting to develop the first gene therapy treatment for hearing loss. If successful, it promises to offer new hope to the estimated 300,000 Americans who suffer from gene-based hearing loss—a number that includes more than 4,000 newborns. The timing may not be ideal, but biotech companies have been largely immune from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession. Developing new drugs takes years, so these companies are better able to weather storms. And the efforts of biotechnology companies that are focusing on tools to prevent and treat potentially fatal health threats has resulted in soaring stock values for many of these companies, even in the face of the current crisis. Akouos, the Boston startup, was founded in 2016. Its goal is to develop the first gene therapy to treat hearing loss and is targeting a specific form of deafness that results from mutations in a single gene. They are experimenting with adeno-associated viruses, using them as vectors to deliver DNA that encodes a functioning gene in certain target cells. Around 7,000 people are afflicted with this type of genetic hearing loss. Adeno-associated viruses are considered viable candidates because they don’t usually cause disease and can be customized to treat a variety of genetic conditions. The company has partnered with two influential organizations: Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Lonza, a Swiss manufacturing company that holds contracts with various pharmaceutical makers. Manny Simons, Akouos’ co-founder and chief executive, holds a degree in neuroscience from Harvard College, a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His desire to help those with hearing loss stems from his passion for playing the piano. “It’s easy to take hearing for granted,” said in a Boston Globe interview. “Maybe because music has been important to me, it’s something that I take a little less for granted.” [1] [1] Saltzman, J. (2020, June 22). Akouos, a startup developing a gene therapy for hearing loss, raises IPO value to $125 million - The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/22/business/ipo-upped-akouos-boston-startup-working-gene-therapy-hearing-loss/