Why Use Background Sounds?

The Science of Soundscapes

Listening to natural soundscapes, like the rustling of leaves or ocean waves, has been scientifically shown to:

• Reduce physiological and psychological stress.
• Aid recovery from everyday cognitive fatigue.
• Help with habituation to tinnitus by promoting relaxation and partial masking.

Research highlights that natural soundscapes activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the "rest and digest" system) while reducing activity in the sympathetic nervous system (the "fight or flight" system). Natural soundscapes have the power to decrease heart rate variability and foster a sense of calm.

Moreover, natural soundscapes engage the emotional centres of the brain. Studies (e.g., Gould van Praag et al., 2017) reveal that these sounds activate the middle insula, a brain region linked to emotional regulation, more significantly than artificial soundscapes. This connection explains why natural sounds often evoke feelings of peace and comfort.

Benefits for Tinnitus

For individuals with tinnitus, natural soundscapes can:

• Provide a soothing background that helps decrease the salience of the tinnitus.
• Encourage habituation by shifting focus away from the tinnitus itself.
• Reduce the stress response associated with persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears.
• Helps to retrain the way the brain interprets tinnitus.

How to Use iPhone Background Sounds

Your iPhone comes with a built-in feature that plays ambient background sounds, such as rain or ocean waves. Here's how to activate it:

1. Navigate to Settings:some text
   • Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds.
2. Turn on Background Sounds:some text
   • Toggle the switch to enable the feature.
3. Choose Your Sound:some text
   • Select from a variety of pre-loaded options (e.g., rain, ocean, or white noise).
4. Adjust the Volume:some text
   • Use the volume slider to set your preferred intensity.
5. Set Preferences:some text
   • Enable background sounds to play alongside media, or have them stop automatically when your iPhone is locked.

This simple setup can turn your phone into a source of calm and focus, helping you feel more grounded throughout your day.

Go Beyond the Basics with MindEar

While the iPhone's background sounds are a great starting point, they’re just the tip of the iceberg. MindEar offers an unparalleled level of customization and personalization, making it the ultimate soundscape tool. Here's how MindEar goes above and beyond:

Personalized Soundscapes

MindEar allows you to create and adjust soundscapes tailored to your preferences. For example:

• Frequency Control: Adjust specific frequencies (e.g., treble and bass) to fine-tune the sound to what feels best for you.
• Dynamic Mixing: Combine different sounds, like rain with neuromodulated tones, to create a completely unique auditory experience.

Therapeutic Features

• Neuromodulated Sounds: Specially designed for tinnitus management, these sounds are fine-tuned to provide relief and promote habituation.
• Colored Noise Options: Choose from pink, white, brown, and violet noise to suit your relaxation or concentration needs.

Rich Sound Library

MindEar’s library offers an expansive range of soundscapes, including:

• Nature-based sounds like "Rainy Dolphin Bay" and "Windy Uluru."
• Unique settings like "Starry Night" and "Thunderstorm Bliss." These options cater to a variety of moods, whether you're looking to relax, focus, or fall asleep.