Tinnitus Relief - What type of Sound Therapy is best?

Whether you are a recent victim or a long suffering patient looking for tinnitus relief, you are going to find this an interesting and informative article. It seems that too many tinnitus sufferers just put up with the symptoms and really believe that lasting tinnitus relief is just not possible. Well there's enough evidence to the contrary if you just follow the advice in this well researched article.
If you read my article on Noise Therapy and Sound Levels as part of your Tinnitus Relief program you will know about the importance of setting the right levels of noise if you use a tinnitus masker.
You also need to understand that the type of masking sound you use is important. How to select the right type of masking sound is what I am dealing with here.
We know that because of the nature of the condition known as tinnitus, what works for some does not work for all. Please remember this as you read about the types of noises I recommend as part of your tinnitus retraining therapy.
Our brain has a huge part to play in the way we hear and react to our tinnitus, and our emotions also play a hugely significant part. For example you know that if you get excited or angry this affects the levels and recurrence, and how you hear, your tinnitus sounds.
Your ideal masking sound will not bring any of your emotions into play. Your favorite love songs or a robust marching band are not likely candidates to be used as maskers as part of your tinnitus therapy. If your emotions get involved this will affect the way your brain is responding so you will not be able to judge if the masking sound is doing the job. You need a sound that becomes a background noise to you and a distraction from your tinnitus for your brain - and set it just below the level of your tinnitus.
The best recommendation when you are considering a masking noise is to seek out a 'neutral' sound. It should be a noise that does not involve you emotionally. The white noise created by wireless static is a good example of a neutral noise. Perhaps for you running water or damp sticks crackling on an open fire are good emotion free sounds. You want your brain to hear the masking noise and focus on this whilst still being aware of your tinnitus sound.
I guess many of you may now be a bit bewildered because in previous articles I have recommended music as a suitable and useful part of your tinnitus relief program. And it is and I still do recommend it - but for your general happiness and perhaps as part of your relaxation therapy NOT as a tinnitus masker. We know that music can relax us and being relaxed is good for our general health, and as part of our tinnitus relief therapy relaxation should be a main feature.
If rock music helps you relax after a tough day that is perfect for that job, though perhaps not as a run up as you begin your daily relaxation therapy, and certainly not as a masker.
Finally, as you will remember from my Noise Therapy and Sound Levels article if your masker is louder than your tinnitus sound it will smother and overwhelm your tinnitus and the tinnitus relief you experience will be temporary.
You'll find even more information on Tinnitus Relief at http://www.TinnitusReliefReviews.com

With sincere wishes for your full recovery,

Miles Hartley.