About Tinnitus Relief – Sound Therapy Without the Complexity
Tinnitus Relief App – Your Life Doesn't Stop Because of Ringing Ears
After a tire explosion left my brother with permanent tinnitus, he spent 15 days testing every app he could find. None worked. They all stopped when he answered calls, joined Zoom meetings, or watched videos. We built what he desperately needed: relief that **never** stops—during work, calls, sleep, and life. Download free. Works in background. Find your quiet tonight.
Medical Disclaimer: We are not doctors or medical professionals. This app does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. If you experience sudden tinnitus onset, pulsatile tinnitus, one-sided hearing loss, dizziness, or ear pain, seek immediate medical evaluation. Sound therapy should complement—not replace—professional medical care.
The Problem: 15 Days Testing Apps, Zero That Actually Worked
When my brother's racing bike tire exploded—140 decibels, equivalent to a gunshot—it left him with a permanent 6,200 Hz ringing in his left ear. Doctors said: "Learn to live with it. Try some white noise apps."
So he downloaded every tinnitus app he could find. Fifteen apps over fifteen days.
What He Desperately Needed But Couldn't Find:
- Background play during work: Every app stopped when he switched to email, Slack, or his browser
- Relief during Zoom calls: The moment a meeting started, the masking sound disappeared
- Watching videos without interruption: Couldn't watch YouTube or Netflix while getting relief
- Listening to music: Had to choose between Spotify OR tinnitus relief—never both
- Sleep timer: No app offered 30/60/120 minute timers or all-night options
- Left/right ear independence: His left ear needed 6,200 Hz at higher volume than his right
- Matched tone + masking combined: Found frequency matching OR masking sounds—never both in one app
"I tried 15 apps over 15 days. None worked in the background. The moment I answered a call or opened YouTube, the sound stopped. I needed relief 3-6 hours a day to accelerate habituation, but I couldn't just stare at the app screen all day. I had work. I had life. I needed something that worked WHILE I lived."
— My brother, 3 weeks after acoustic traumaThe Breakthrough: What Actually Changed His Life
After weeks of searching, he finally found a tone generator that let him identify his exact frequency: 6,200 Hz. He layered it with gentle rain sounds. That night, he slept four hours straight—his first solid sleep in months.
But he still faced the same problem: no app combined everything he needed.
The Four Features That Were Non-Negotiable:
1. True Background Play
Relief continues during phone calls, video meetings, YouTube, Spotify, browsing—anything. Your phone stays usable. Your life doesn't stop.
He needed 3-6 hours daily for habituation. Background play made that actually possible.
2. Sleep Timer
Set for 30, 60, or 120 minutes—or all night. Automatic shutoff so you don't wake up to a dead battery. No YouTube Premium required.
Finally found flat earbuds for side-sleeping and could set a timer for the entire night.
3. Left/Right Ear Control
His left ear (6,200 Hz, higher volume) needed different settings than his right. Premium feature lets you control each ear independently.
After testing 15 apps, only one offered this—and it didn't work in background.
4. Matched Tone + Masking
Identify your exact frequency (100-15,000 Hz), then layer it with white, pink, or brown noise. Or rain. Or ocean waves. Your choice.
No other app combined frequency matching with customizable masking sounds.
Why these features matter: Research suggests consistent sound therapy (3-6 hours daily) can reduce habituation time from 18-24 months to 6-12 months. But that only works if you can actually USE the app while living your life—not just while staring at it.
Real-Life Use Cases: Where Background Play Changes Everything
During Work
Run relief in the background while checking email, Slack, spreadsheets, and presentations. No interruption when switching apps.
- Email and Slack notifications don't stop relief
- Browser tabs work normally
- Spreadsheets and documents open without pause
Video Meetings
Join Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet calls without your masking sound cutting out. Relief continues throughout the entire meeting.
- Zoom/Teams calls work seamlessly
- Video doesn't stop background audio
- Presentations and screen sharing work fine
Watching Videos
Watch YouTube, Netflix, or any streaming service while maintaining continuous relief. No more choosing between content and comfort.
- YouTube continues playing your relief
- Netflix doesn't interrupt masking
- No YouTube Premium required
Phone Calls
Answer calls without your tinnitus relief stopping. Background play keeps working through the entire conversation.
- Incoming calls don't pause relief
- Conversations happen normally
- Relief resumes automatically after
Listening to Music
Layer your tinnitus relief under Spotify, Apple Music, or podcasts. Both play simultaneously.
- Spotify plays over relief sounds
- Podcasts work without interruption
- Adjust volumes independently
Sleep
Set a timer for 30/60/120 minutes or all night. Lock your phone. Relief continues. Battery doesn't die.
- Timer shuts off automatically
- Works with phone locked
- No dead battery in morning
Why We Built This: A Sister's Mission
I'm his sister. I watched him struggle for months—testing apps, searching forums, adjusting volumes at 3 AM. As a digital solutions consultant, I create tools that solve real problems. Not complicated features nobody uses. Simple tools people desperately need.
When he told me about his 15-day search for an app that worked in the background, I immediately understood. The market was full of apps offering 8-week CBT programs, daily meditation sessions, and complicated tracking—but missing the basics.
Our Design Philosophy
- Tools, not homework: No daily tasks. No progress tracking. No guilt about skipping sessions.
- Immediate relief: Open app. Match tone. Add masking. Press play. Relief starts in 30 seconds.
- Background-first: Your life doesn't stop. Work, calls, videos, music—all continue while you get relief.
- Privacy-obsessed: No signup. No data collection. No tracking. Your tinnitus stays yours.
"If I had this app from day one, I wouldn't have struggled for months. I would have found my 6,200 Hz frequency, layered it with rain sounds, set a sleep timer, and kept it running in the background while I worked. Instead, I wasted 15 days testing apps that stopped working the moment I answered a call."
— My brother, 6 months after building Acouphènes HQHow It Works: Three Tools That Actually Matter
Match Your Frequency (2 Minutes)
Adjust from 100-15,000 Hz until the external tone matches your internal ringing. My brother found 6,200 Hz. Yours might be 4,500 Hz or 8,000 Hz. Save it. Set volume to 15-25%, always below your tinnitus loudness.
Add Masking Sounds (1 Minute)
Free: White noise. Premium: Pink noise, brown noise, rain, ocean, forest. Layer your matched tone with masking. Two sliders control everything. Save combinations that work.
Live Your Life (All Day)
Press play. Lock phone. Background play keeps working. Answer calls. Join Zoom. Watch videos. Listen to Spotify. Set sleep timer. Your relief never stops.
What Users Report
"Finally—an app that works during my workday. I run it in the background for 6 hours while doing emails, Zoom calls, and watching training videos. First app that actually fits into real life."
— Week 2 user experience"The background play is genius. I can watch Netflix with my partner while getting tinnitus relief. Before this, I had to choose between spending time together or managing my symptoms."
— Month 1 personal testimony"Set the sleep timer for 120 minutes, phone locked, and it just works. Wake up to a charged phone and actually rested. No more YouTube Premium subscription just for background audio."
— Week 3 sleep-focused userResearch published in peer-reviewed journals indicates that sound therapy combined with habituation techniques can reduce tinnitus-related distress over 6-12 month periods. Personal experiences suggest consistent daily use (3-6 hours) may accelerate this timeline. Individual results vary significantly.
Free vs Premium: What You Get
Free Forever
- Frequency matching (100-15,000 Hz)
- White noise masking
- Background play during calls/videos/work
- One saved profile
- Offline functionality
- Privacy-first (no signup)
Premium ($49.99/year)
- Sleep timer (30/60/120 min, all night)
- Left/right ear control (different settings per ear)
- Pink & brown noise
- 18+ therapeutic soundscapes (rain, ocean, forest)
- Matched tone therapy
- Custom multi-layer mixing
- Multiple saved profiles (Sleep/Work/Travel)
The Feature My Brother Couldn't Find Anywhere:
Background play is FREE. We know what it's like to desperately need relief during work, calls, and daily life. That's not a premium feature—that's basic human dignity.
Premium unlocks advanced controls (timer, left/right independence, more sounds). But relief during Zoom calls, phone conversations, and video watching? That's free. Forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does background play really work during Zoom calls?
Yes. Many users report running the app during video meetings, phone calls, and presentations. The masking sound continues in the background while your microphone and speakers function normally for the call. Volume can be adjusted so it doesn't interfere with conversations.
Can I watch YouTube/Netflix while using the app?
Yes. Background play means your relief continues while you watch videos, listen to music, browse the web, or use any other app. You're not locked into staring at our app screen.
How does the sleep timer work?
Premium feature. Set timer for 30, 60, or 120 minutes—or all night. Lock your phone. Sleep. The app automatically stops at the set time. No dead battery in the morning. No YouTube Premium subscription required for all-night audio.
Why do I need left/right ear control?
Many people (like my brother) have tinnitus louder in one ear. His left ear needed 6,200 Hz at higher volume than his right. Premium left/right control lets you set different frequencies and volumes for each ear independently.
Can this app cure my tinnitus?
No. There's currently no FDA-approved cure for subjective tinnitus. This is a symptom management tool based on sound therapy principles documented in clinical research. Many users report reduced perception and improved sleep, but individual experiences vary. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical advice.
How long until I notice relief?
Personal experiences vary widely. Some users report feeling calmer during their first session. Research on habituation suggests meaningful improvement typically requires consistent daily use (3-6 hours) over 6-12 weeks. My brother noticed his first solid sleep within 3 days of finding his matched frequency, but full habituation took approximately 3 months.
Is 3-6 hours daily actually necessary?
Research suggests consistent daily sound therapy may accelerate habituation. However, this only works if the app fits into real life. Background play makes 3-6 hours feasible—you work, take calls, watch videos, and live normally while getting relief. Without background play, staring at an app for 6 hours isn't realistic.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once downloaded, all core features function without internet connection. Premium soundscapes download to your device after purchase. Perfect for flights, camping, or areas with poor connectivity.
Start Tonight
No commitment. No credit card for free tier. Download Acouphènes HQ and discover what my brother found after 15 days of searching: relief that actually works during real life.
Built by someone who gets it. My brother tested 15 apps over 15 days before we built this. Every feature exists because he desperately needed it and couldn't find it anywhere else.
Related Resources
- Tinnitus Emergency Relief Protocol — What to do during acute spikes
- Sleeping with Tinnitus — Evidence-based sleep strategies
- Frequency Matching Guide — Find your exact tone
- White vs Pink vs Brown Noise — Which masking works best
- Compare Tinnitus Apps — How we differ from competitors
- About Acouphènes HQ — The complete story
Research Sources & Citations
Sound therapy & habituation research:
- Henry, J. A., et al. (2005). "General review of tinnitus: prevalence, mechanisms, effects, and management." Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 48(5), 1204-1235.
- Searchfield, G. D., et al. (2017). "Sound Therapy for Tinnitus: A Review of the Evidence." MDPI - Audiology Research, 7(1), 164.
- Jastreboff, P. J., & Hazell, J. W. (2004). Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model. Cambridge University Press.
- Tyler, R. S., et al. (2007). "Tinnitus sound therapy trial shows effectiveness for those with tinnitus." Noise & Health, 9(37), 161-163.
- Bhatt, J. M., Lin, H. W., & Bhattacharyya, N. (2016). "Prevalence, Severity, Exposures, and Treatment Patterns of Tinnitus in the United States." JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 142(10), 959-965.
- Noreña, A. J., & Eggermont, J. J. (2006). "Enriched acoustic environment after noise trauma abolishes neural signs of tinnitus." NeuroReport, 17(6), 559-563.