Sound enrichment helps persons suffering from low frequency phantom sounds

Low frequency noise (LFN) of unknown origin can be disturbing, especially at night, and affect sleep and relaxation. If reduction of the LFN is impossible, adding sound can mask the troubling noise or detract attention from it to reduce distress. To assess the effectiveness of this, a survey was set up consisting of three questionnaires: the first when a person requested a masking sound and follow-ups after 1 and 3 months. Distress reduction was based on self-assessment and on the tinnitus questionnaire (TQ). Out of 124 respondents, 69% reported that the masking sound contributed to a reduction in complaints, resulting in a reduction in TQ score. Respondents were mainly above 50 years of age and 31% were male. Most respondents (84%) denounce the possibility of an internal sound. However, demographic characteristics of respondents are more similar to tinnitus patients and less to residents annoyed by environmental noise. The number of respondents per capita rises with decreasing population density, indicating that a quiet environment enhances the hearing of LFN. Thus, absence of sound in the environment may induce the hearing of LFN.