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Do you have trouble sleeping because of the noise outside your window? If so, you’re not alone. 10.3 million Australians suffer from sleep deprivation due to issues such as external noise. A white noise machine can be a great way to combat this issue and get the rest you need! These machines are said to make a noise that may assist you to relax and fall asleep more quickly. But how do white noise machines work?
In this blog article, we will answer this question and so much more about white noise and the machines that produce it. We will discuss white noise and how it may help you sleep, as well as what white noise machines are and how they improve your sleep. So whether you are looking to buy your first white noise machine or just want to learn more about them, keep reading!
White Noise – What Is It and How Does It Help You Sleep?
You may have heard the term “white noise” before, but what does it actually mean? White noise is a sound that is constant, uniform, and covers all frequencies of hearing. It is often described as sounding like “static” on a television or radio.
Many people find white noise calming and helpful for sleep. There are a few theories about how white noise can help you sleep. One theory is that white noise drowns out other sounds that may wake you up or prevent you from falling asleep. This is especially helpful if you live in a city with a lot of traffic noise or have roommates who are noisy at night.
Another theory is that white noise helps to mask the “quiet sounds” that can actually be quite jarring and wake you up like your partner snoring or a dog barking in the distance.
White Noise Machine – What is it?
A white noise machine is a square, cube, or round-shaped device that produces sounds that mask other sounds. The sound produced by the machine is meant to be soothing and help you fall asleep or stay asleep.
Most white noise machines have an adjustable volume so that you can find the perfect sound level for you.
Some models have a variety of sounds to choose from, including rain, thunder, ocean waves, and even the sound of a fan. Click hereto check out some of the best white noise machines on the market.
How do White Noise Machines Work
Now that we know what white noise is and how it can help you sleep, let’s discuss how white noise machines work.
The Working Principle
Is it possible to truly listen to and differentiate five songs at the same time? Because of your brain’s cognitive capacity, you can’t completely process all that information. Consider the same thing about all of the sounds in your environment.
The working principle of the white noise machine is usually the same. No matter how loud your environment is, the sound from the machine will muffle it.
As a result, the noises from the environment will be mixed together in our minds, which our brains will be unable to differentiate, and we will feel as if they were never there.
How does the Masking Capacity Work
White noise machines are a great way to mask the sound of busy streets, vehicles outside your window, and other common noises that bother us. They can produce a wide range of frequencies and are excellent at blocking out all sounds, as long as the volume of that matches theirs.
How do Different Types of White Noise Machines Work
There are two different types of white noise machines available. Let’s take a look at how they work.
1. Electromechanical White Noise Machines
Electromechanical White Noise Machines are the predecessors of contemporary white noise machines. Despite this, many people use them because they are easy to use and have good sound quality.
Electromechanical white noise machines are simple devices that create a constant gentle airflow to generate a consistent, steady, and soft sound. These machines work by spinning an internal fan, which blows air through the machine’s vents to create the airflow.
2. Electronic White Noise Machines
The electronic white noise machines are the most recent and improved versions of white noise machines. They generate noise patterns that are either continuous or recorded as audio files using integrated circuit chips (ICs). Once the noise is generated, it is amplified and delivered to the user through a loudspeaker.
Adjustable volume control is a common feature of this variant of white noise machines. Some units also come with a timer so that the user can set it to automatically turn off after a certain period of time.
Some of these also include pre-recorded noises such as rain, thunderstorms, ocean waves, and so on. They can be used as a music device by playing them.
Does a White Noise Machine Actually Improve Sleep?
Now that we know how a white noise machine works, you might be wondering do white noise machines actually improve sleep.
According to 2021 research, the use of white noise in an environment helped those who struggle to sleep due to high levels of environmental noise.
During the1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, researchers investigated white noise and sleep, discovering that listening to it helped newborn babies fall asleep faster and affected how many times adults passed through different sleep stages during the night.
Now, you may be thinking about where to put a white noise machine for the best outcome. The best performance will come from placing it within close reach of your bed.
Note that, it’s also important to consider that if you’re using it for your baby, keep it at least 7 feet away from its crib.
Conclusion
White noise machines are a great way to help you sleep better or fall asleep faster. If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, we recommend giving one of these machines a try. Now that you know how white noise machines work, you can make an informed purchase decision.
We hope this article has helped you understand how a white noise machine works and how it can help improve your sleep. Thanks for reading!
