Understanding Helpful Noises for Sleep Assistance

27 Jun Understanding Helpful Noises for Sleep Assistance

People use a huge variety of tools to help improve their sleep, and one of the most common areas here is the use of noises or sounds during the fall-asleep period or even the entire night. There are several such noises that may be used depending on the sleeper and the environment, and this is an area worth exploring if you’re struggling with sleep and have not given it a shot.

At 2 Brothers Mattress, we’re here to serve as your comprehensive sleep specialists, whether you’re in Salt Lake City, Provo, American Fork or other parts of Utah. We stock a huge range of the very best mattresses on the market, plus additional sleep items like adjustable beds, sleep accessories and more. Here are some of the basics on noise during sleep and why many people use it, plus the most common kinds of noises and who they might be good for.

Sound Waves and Sleep

When it comes to sleep, there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that sound waves have an impact on sleep quality. For starters, studies have shown that some noises can be especially beneficial when trying to fall asleep, such as white noise or nature sounds like waves crashing on the beach or rain falling in the forest.

The theory here is that those sounds create a sort of “static,” acting as a masking agent to block out any outside, disruptive noise that might be present. It’s also been suggested that they may help lower the levels of stress or over-arousal in the brain, allowing us to relax and drift off into a good night’s sleep.

Basic Uses of Noise for Sleep

Generally, the uses of noise for sleep match up with the facts we went over above. The most common such use is to drown out disruptive noise, such as an overly-loud neighbor or a barking dog.

Additionally, some people find that certain soothing noises like ocean waves or rain sounds help them drift off into sleep easier than without such noise. In that case, the sound generally does not need to be loud, as it is more about providing a sense of comfort and security.

Finally, for some people, even playing music on low-volume can help them fall asleep faster or stay asleep longer. This could be classical music, jazz, or whatever kind of tunes you prefer.

Our next few sections will go over the common forms of sleep noise, plus how they work and which might be ideal for you.

White Noise

Likely the best-known and most commonly-used sleep- noise, white noise is a combination of different frequencies that are blended together to form one sound. It can be described as a kind of “static,” and has been used both in entertainment and as a sleep aid for years.

White noise can drown out disruptive sounds, helping you drift off into sleep more quickly or stay asleep longer. It can also be used to create a sense of and comfort, letting you know that noises won’t disrupt your sleep easily.

At low levels, white noise can be quite soothing — however, it’s important to note that if the sound is too loud, it could actually become disruptive in itself! You’ll need to find the right levels for your own needs.

Brown Noise

For those who are particularly bothered by deeper sounds like rumble or low-pitched noises, brown noise might be a good choice. Brown noise is a lower-frequency version of white noise, and can often make a good substitute when it comes to finding something with more “oomph” behind it.

If you’re wondering, brown noise gets its name from its similarity to Brownian Motion, or the random movement of particles in liquid. If you’re looking for something with a bit more power behind it, this might make sense.

Blue Noise

The opposite of brown noise, blue noise is far higher in frequency and tends to be used when someone needs sound that has more “pep” to it. It’s often described as being similar to wind or maybe crickets chirping.

In terms of sleep benefits, blue noise is generally seen as something that can be used to keep the mind from wandering and make it easier to stay asleep longer. If you find yourself easily woken up or having a hard time focusing on sleep, this may be worth exploring.

Pink Noise

Finally, pink noise is a combination of white and brown noise, and can be used as something of a middle-ground between the two. It’s often described as being similar to a light rain falling or surf crashing against the beach.

Pink noise has been linked to improved memory recall and better concentration while awake — but it also may have sleep benefits, like providing a sense of comfort or peace, that could make it useful to some.

In the end, all these noises can be helpful in own way, and you’ll need to explore what works best for your own individual needs. You might find a combination of noise types or even different kinds of sound work better — so don’t hesitate to experiment here!

At 2 Brothers Mattress, we are dedicated to helping you get the best sleep of your life. To learn about any of our mattresses or other sleep products for clients around SLC, Provo, American Fork and nearby areas, speak to our team at 2 Brothers Mattress today.