About tinnitus
A ringing, a hiss, a hum that only you can hear. Tinnitus is incredibly common and still often misunderstood. Here you read where the sound really arises, why it can be so persistent and what science says can be done about it.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound without a sound source nearby. It is often called ringing in the ears, but it can also sound like a whistle, a hum or a hiss. An estimated ten to fifteen percent of adults hear it regularly. For most it stays in the background; for a smaller group it weighs heavily on sleep, concentration and mood. Both experiences are real, and both deserve an explanation.
For a long time the cause was sought mainly in the ear. Understandable, since that is where sound comes in. But hearing only happens in the brain, and that is where tinnitus arises too. That insight changes everything: you do not have to get rid of the sound to be bothered less by it. You can teach your brain to respond to it differently.
From ear to brain
Hearing is a chain of steps. Tinnitus arises at the end of that chain, not at the beginning.
Sound comes in
Vibrations in the air reach the eardrum through the outer ear. In the cochlea, thousands of hair cells turn those vibrations into electrical signals.
The auditory nerve passes it on
The auditory nerve carries those signals to the auditory regions of the brain. Only there does a signal become a sound you consciously hear.
The brain fills in
When fewer signals arrive, for instance through hearing loss, the brain works harder and fills the silence itself. That is how a sound can arise from within: a phantom sound.
The alarm goes off
The emotional brain judges the unfamiliar sound as a possible threat. The amygdala raises a danger signal and the hippocampus stores the experience, fright included. From that moment you hear not just a sound, but a warning.
What happens in your head
In tinnitus, two parts of the brain are especially active: the part that processes sound and the part that regulates emotion. Together they keep the sound in the spotlight.
The auditory system
The auditory cortex turns sound into conscious perception. In tinnitus this region reorganizes itself in an unwanted way. Research shows this can partly be reversed, and that visual feedback can help.
The emotional brain
The limbic system regulates emotion, attention and memory. In tinnitus it responds as if there were acute danger. Thoughts like 'this is driving me crazy' feed that response, so the brain passes the signal on even more clearly.
Amygdala and hippocampus
The amygdala, no bigger than an almond, sounds the alarm. The hippocampus keeps the memory of the moment, the place and the fright. That is how the sound becomes tied to stress, long after the first moment has passed.
Phantom sound
In phantom pain, someone feels pain in a limb that is no longer there: the brain fills in missing information by itself. In tinnitus something similar happens with sound. The same brain regions are overactive, which is why the literature also calls tinnitus a phantom sound.
What helps
The sound itself is hard to switch off. Your brain's response to it is not. These insights form the basis of Freequency.
Exposure therapy
You deliberately seek out your tinnitus sound, but in a context that is not threatening. By experiencing that the feared scenario does not come true, the hippocampus stores new memories with less emotional charge. The European guideline for tinnitus recommends this approach.
In Freequency
You hear your own tone in your own room, carried by a bird. It does not get safer or friendlier than that.
Auditory training
Research suggests that actively searching for and recognizing sound sources, with full attention and active participation, can reduce the perception of tinnitus. Your brain learns to place the sound anew: as something from outside, not as an alarm.
In Freequency
Catch the Tone is exactly that: listening for where the sound is, finding the bird and setting it free.
A mirror for your tinnitus
Mirror therapy has helped with phantom pain since 1996: a mirror shows the brain a limb that is no longer there, and the regained sense of control reduces the pain. If phantom pain and tinnitus look so alike in the brain, a mirror for sound may play the same role.
In Freequency
Freequency makes your tone visible and tangible, so you gain influence over it.
From virtual to augmented reality
In 2010 this approach was worked out theoretically using virtual reality. In 2016 research followed, with demonstrably positive effects on tinnitus loudness and on its impact on daily life. Crucially, the sound has to resemble the person's own tinnitus and the setting has to feel real.
In Freequency
That is why Freequency chose augmented reality in your own room, without an expensive headset. Accessible to everyone.
Misconceptions
Many persistent ideas exist about tinnitus. Some of them unintentionally make the burden heavier.
- Tinnitus is in my ear.
- The ear can be the trigger, for instance with hearing loss, but the sound arises in the brain. That is why an approach aimed at the brain works.
- Nothing can be done about it.
- The sound itself cannot always be removed, but the burden it puts on you can. Exposure, attention training and acceptance are proven ways to make your brain respond differently.
- Chronic means forever.
- Chronic only means it has been present for more than three months. It says nothing about whether it can decrease or fade into the background.
- I should ignore the sound.
- Forcing yourself to ignore it costs energy and keeps the alarm sharp. Deliberately and calmly seeking out the sound, in a safe context, works better.
- Silence is best.
- In complete silence tinnitus stands out more. A calm background often helps, as does controlled practice with a tone that resembles your own.
- It means something is seriously wrong.
- Usually not. Tinnitus is very common and rarely a sign of a serious condition. In doubt, or did it start suddenly on one side? See your doctor or audiologist.
Get started
Ten minutes a day, your phone, and your own tone. That's all it takes, and the first 3 days are free.
Freequency complements your existing care and does not replace it. Use it in consultation with your audiologist or healthcare professional.
