Spatial Audio
Spatially moving noise for tinnitus relief.
Press Play to hear spatial noise and see movement.
Why moving sound can help with tinnitus
Tinnitus is often experienced as having a location in space — in one ear, both ears, or inside the head. Soft noise that moves around you can work as sound enrichment while also giving the auditory system a changing external cue to follow, which may make the tinnitus less sticky in attention than a flat, unchanging hiss.
Early spatial-masking work and later trials of spatialized or virtual-reality sound programs suggest some people prefer moving or located sound and may get meaningful relief, though sample sizes are often small and results vary. This is not a cure or medical treatment. Keep volumes comfortable, and talk with a clinician for personal advice.
References
- Searchfield GD, Kobayashi K, Hodgson SA, Hodgson C, Tevoitdale H, Irving S. Spatial masking: Development and testing of a new tinnitus assistive technology. Assistive Technology. 2016;28(2):115-125. Link
- Searchfield GD, Sanders PJ. A randomized single-blind controlled trial of a prototype digital polytherapeutic for tinnitus. Frontiers in Neurology. 2022;13:958730. Link
- Park DH, Han SS, Han M, Park S, Kim HN, Kim J, Aan H, Kim J, Kim S, Kim K, Choi J. A clinical trial of a patient-customized virtual reality intervention for tinnitus. Scientific Reports. 2022;12:12441. Link
- Searchfield GD, Sanders PJ, Barde A. A scoping review of the spatial perception of tinnitus and a guideline for the minimum reporting of tinnitus location. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 2025;55(3):501-519. Link
- Wang H, Tang D, Wu Y, Zhou L, Sun S. The state of the art of sound therapy for subjective tinnitus in adults. Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease. 2020;11:2040622320956426. Link