Articles by Sophie Asveld

Author

Co-founder and Innovation Manager

Sophie wrote 21 articles for Freequency. You will find them below, newest first.

November 3, 2026

"I thought everybody had it" a mother and son’s battle with tinnitus

Donna has heard a ringing in her ears for as long as she can remember. Her son Scott only noticed his a few years ago. For both of them, the hardest part is not the sound itself but what it does to their hearing. In this story, mother and son share how they live with tinnitus, why they rarely talk about it, and what they would want from tinnitus care in the US.

“The loudest thing in the room”: Mike’s search for relief from tinnitus

4 min read

October 26, 2026

“The loudest thing in the room”: Mike’s search for relief from tinnitus

Mike O. has lived with tinnitus for 15 years. His hearing aids help, but for the tinnitus he keeps hearing the same answer: there is nothing to be done. Read how he searched for relief on his own, and why a different approach appeals to him.

Meet Gerhard Andersson, PhD as a Clinical Advisory Board Member

2 min read

August 19, 2026

Meet Gerhard Andersson, PhD as a Clinical Advisory Board Member

Gerhard Andersson is a clinical psychologist, professor, and pioneer of internet-based CBT for tinnitus. He has spent more than two decades at Linköping University researching the psychological treatment of tinnitus and translating it into scalable therapy formats. His scientific work forms part of the evidence base behind Freequency's approach.

Nienke: "Just because it didn't help me doesn't mean it won't work for someone else"

5 min read

August 4, 2026

Nienke: "Just because it didn't help me doesn't mean it won't work for someone else"

Nienke (65) has had tinnitus for fifteen years. She used Freequency for the full hundred days, but her symptoms didn't ease, and halfway through she even temporarily developed a second, unsettling sound. Still, her message to those who are hesitant is clear: try it anyway. Read Nienke's story.

How to find your tinnitus tone in the tone maker

4 min read

July 29, 2026

How to find your tinnitus tone in the tone maker

Finding your tinnitus tone in the tone maker: a step-by-step guide to fine-tuning the shape, frequency, amplitude, and balance of your tone to match your own tinnitus, including how to combine multiple sounds if you hear more than one tone. It's okay to be unsure, it doesn't have to be perfect on the first try, a tone that comes close is already enough to move forward with.

Meet Jan de Laat, PhD as a Clinical Advisory Board Member

2 min read

June 30, 2026

Meet Jan de Laat, PhD as a Clinical Advisory Board Member

Jan de Laat is a medical-physicist and audiologist at Leiden University Medical Center, specializing in diagnostic tools for hearing-impaired children and elderly. His scientific work helps shape the clinical foundation behind Freequency.

Meet James A. Henry, PhD as a Clinical Advisory Board Member

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June 11, 2026

Meet James A. Henry, PhD as a Clinical Advisory Board Member

James A. Henry is an audiologist, behavioral neuroscientist, and one of the most published tinnitus researchers in the world. He spent over 35 years at the VA Portland Health Care System conducting research on tinnitus assessment and management. His scientific work forms part of the evidence base behind Freequency's approach.

Starting a Freequency pilot at your clinic

2 min read

June 8, 2026

Starting a Freequency pilot at your clinic

Audiology clinics can integrate Freequency into their tinnitus patient pathway through a structured office pilot. Clinics receive access codes, distribute them to eligible patients, and provide 100-day free app access with full onboarding support from Freequency. No additional software or systems are required to get started. Learn about the setup, eligibility criteria, monitoring options, and what Freequency provides throughout the pilot.

Why exposure-based therapy sets Freequency apart from other tinnitus apps for your clinic

5 min read

June 3, 2026

Why exposure-based therapy sets Freequency apart from other tinnitus apps for your clinic

What sets Freequency apart from other digital tinnitus tools for your clinic? The evidence shows a clear conclusion.

Meet Tricia Scaglione during the 100 days

2 min read

May 26, 2026

Meet Tricia Scaglione during the 100 days

Tricia Scaglione is an audiologist, nationally recognized tinnitus expert, and Content Partner at Freequency. She appears in a series of videos throughout the 100 Days Further program, covering the neuroscience of tinnitus and the psychological side of living with it.

Freequency featured in The Hearing Review

2 min read

May 19, 2026

Freequency featured in The Hearing Review

The Hearing Review — one of the leading publications in US audiology — published a piece on Freequency's entry into the American market. The article highlights our evidence-based approach and the clinical experts who stand behind it.

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss: How Are They Related? — Explained by Jim Henry

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May 12, 2026

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss: How Are They Related? — Explained by Jim Henry

Tinnitus and hearing loss often appear together — up to 90% of people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. But one doesn't cause the other. In this short video, tinnitus researcher Jim Henry explains how the two are actually related, why hearing loss is a risk factor rather than a cause, and which events are most commonly linked to the onset of tinnitus. He also addresses a common source of confusion: people mistakenly blaming their tinnitus for hearing difficulties they didn't know they had, and why a proper hearing evaluation matters.

2 min read

May 1, 2026

Looking back at AAA2026

Three days at the American Academy of Audiology Annual Conference gave us new contacts and a clearer view of where Freequency fits. The tinnitus conversation is shifting toward daily experience, with behavior- and perception-based tools and ACT-inspired approaches gaining mainstream traction. Audiologists repeatedly told us patients need more support between appointments — a simple, motivating daily tool that complements clinical care. Our gamification components landed well; seeing audiologists smile while trying them said it all. We had solid partnership conversations with clinics, research groups, and hearing-care companies.

4 min read

April 22, 2026

Join the Freequency Pilot

Freequency is launching its US pilot and inviting people with tinnitus to be part of it. After supporting thousands of users in the Netherlands, we're exploring how our augmented reality app can help people across the United States. Freequency combines game-like interactions with evidence-based therapeutic principles — including CBT, ACT, and exposure therapy — to help retrain how your brain responds to tinnitus. Rather than eliminating the sound, the app reduces its impact on daily life through short, 10-minute sessions. As a pilot participant, you'll get free early access while helping shape how Freequency is developed and introduced in the US.

A new approach to retraining the way people respond to tinnitus

3 min read

April 22, 2026

A new approach to retraining the way people respond to tinnitus

Freequency is an immersive augmented reality-based app that helps people retrain how their brain responds to tinnitus through short, daily sessions on their phone. Using spatial audio, controlled sound exposure, and evidence-based gradual exposure techniques, Freequency supports the process of long-term habituation. We translate therapeutic principles from exposure-based tinnitus therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy into interactive sessions.

Understanding User Experience and Outcomes with Freequency

3 min read

April 21, 2026

Understanding User Experience and Outcomes with Freequency

Freequency is a digital app designed to support people in how they relate to and experience tinnitus in daily life. It combines interactive sound exercises and behavioral principles in an engaging, augmented reality environment. Early user data suggests positive changes in how people cope with tinnitus over time, particularly with consistent daily use. Ongoing research and real-world data collection continue to provide insights into user experience, engagement, and long-term outcomes.

ACT founder Steven Hayes joins Freequency's Clinical Advisory Board

3 min read

April 15, 2026

ACT founder Steven Hayes joins Freequency's Clinical Advisory Board

Dr. Steven Hayes — Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada and founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — has joined Freequency's Clinical Advisory Board. With 47 books and nearly 700 scientific publications, he is among the most cited psychologists worldwide. Having personal experience with tinnitus himself, Hayes is motivated to contribute.

Ries: “My tinnitus tone is still there, but the disturbance is gone.”

4 min read

March 31, 2026

Ries: “My tinnitus tone is still there, but the disturbance is gone.”

Ries developed persistent tinnitus that gradually worsened into a constant, intrusive ringing, severely affecting his sleep, energy, and daily functioning. Despite seeking medical advice and researching solutions, he found no cure and learned that tinnitus is often something people must learn to live with rather than eliminate.

Piet: “Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t, but I’ve been symptom-free for a month!”

4 min read

June 30, 2025

Piet: “Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t, but I’ve been symptom-free for a month!”

Piet (74) developed persistent tinnitus that severely affected his daily life. After trying various treatments without success, he began using the Freequency app alongside chiropractic care. Over time, his symptoms faded, and he has now been symptom-free for a month. While unsure what caused the improvement, he believes the app played a positive role and encourages others to give it a try.

Freequency Wins the Audience Award at the National Care Innovation Prize 2025

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May 1, 2025

Freequency Wins the Audience Award at the National Care Innovation Prize 2025

Freequency has won the Audience Award at the tenth edition of the National Care Innovation Prize (Nationale Zorginnovatieprijs), held during the Zorg & ict trade fair and sponsored by ING. With 24% of the public vote, Freequency received a €5,000 cheque from Constantijn van Oranje. As the Netherlands' first tinnitus AR serious game, Freequency uses augmented reality and exposure therapy to help people retrain their brains and experience fewer tinnitus complaints. The recognition is a meaningful step toward making self-management accessible for the more than two million Dutch people living with tinnitus.

Freequency in the Top 5 of the KVK Innovation Top 100

2 min read

January 2, 2025

Freequency in the Top 5 of the KVK Innovation Top 100

Freequency has been included in the KVK Innovation Top 100, the annual list of the most innovative SMEs in the Netherlands, finishing within the top 5. During the award ceremony, we managed to hold our ground among the most innovative companies in the country. For Freequency — the first tinnitus serious game in the Netherlands that utilizes Augmented Reality — this is an important recognition. It confirms that a playful, scientifically-based approach to tinnitus is not only valuable for users, but is also viewed as a serious innovation with societal impact.

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