Are There Negative Effects from White Noise Sound Therapy?

SCIENCE & RESEARCH NEWS  Are There Negative Effects from White Noise Sound Therapy?

Summary by John A. Coverstone, AuD also found that the effects reversed which has been shown to have its when the rats were restored to a own negative effects, including in Sound therapy is one of the most normal environment. rodents. commonly prescribed treatments In another study, researchers At this point, there is no direct for tinnitus as well as a common demonstrated that continuous noise evidence of deleterious cognitive self-prescribed method for dealing exposure over an eight-week period effects from noise therapy used with with tinnitus. The majority of induced plastic changes in brain humans. Noise exposure has been sound therapy treatments – either function of rats of various ages.3 A shown to have negative effects on professionally prescribed or self- third study cited as evidence for the humans in the form of annoyance, incepted – use white noise to negative effects of low-level noise sleep disturbance, educational mitigate the relative loudness of exposure studied the effects on the performance, and cardiovascular tinnitus. A recent article published in brains of rats of both constant noise health. However, no conclusive JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck exposure and intermittent noise evidence could be found for any Surgery calls into question the long- exposure for 10 hours per day, which negative cognitive effects when noise term effects of using white noise for yielded similar results.4 exposure is below minimum harmful tinnitus therapy.1 What all the studies cited in the levels (80–85 dB sound pressure The authors of this study, two of article have in common is research level). Readers are encouraged to whom are on staff (one is a founder) involving rats with constant and maintain current regimens prescribed of Posit Science, a private company exclusive noise exposure. This by their audiologist, psychologist, or offering a brain training system, is a significant drawback to the physician until discussing further any performed a literature review of conclusions of the paper because possible side effects. white noise research and effects on none of the supportive evidence cognitive function, cognitive decline, was gathered in human studies. 1 Attarha, M., Bigelow, J., & Merzenich, M. M. and cognitive development. Based Furthermore, the rat subjects (2018, August 30). Unintended consequences of on their review, the authors assert referenced in each supporting article white noise therapy for tinnitus – Otolaryngology’s Cobra Effect: A review. JAMA Otolaryngology – that white noise may have negative were generally exposed to noise 24/7 Head & Neck Surgery. Advance online publication. consequences on central auditory (with one exception) and exposed to doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2018.1856. 2 Kamal, B., Holman, C., & de Villers-Sidani, E. (2013). function and brain functioning in only noise. This is difficult to compare Shaping the aging brain: Role of auditory input general. They recommend that patterns in the emergence of auditory cortical to the daily experiences of humans, impairments. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 7, white noise should be avoided as a who are typically engaged in social 52. doi:10.3389/fnsys.2013.00052 3 Zhou, X., Panizutti, R., de Villes-Sidani, E., Madeira, treatment for tinnitus. interaction, including listening to C., & Merzenich, M. (2011, April 13). Natural The authors cite a handful of conversation, music, and a wide restoration of critical period plasticity in the juvenile and adult primary auditory cortex. Journal of studies showing various effects variety of sounds. These structured Neuroscience, 31(15), 5625–5634. doi:10.1523/ on brain function. In one study, sounds potentially have significant JNEUROSCI.6470-10.2011 4 Zhou, X., & Merzenich, M. (2012, May 15). researchers found that young rats positive consequences on brain Environmental noise exposure degrades normal exposed to eight weeks of continuous function, as shown by research linking listening processes. Nature Communications, 3, 843. doi:10.1038/ncomms1849 noise had brain processing function hearing loss and cognitive decline.5 5 Lin, F. R., Yaffe, K., Xia, J., Xue, Q.-L., Harris, T. B., that was indistinguishable from brain Purchase-Helzner, E., … Simonsick, E. M. (2013). The exception to this might be Hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults. 2 function of normally aging rats. They individuals who are socially isolated, JAMA Internal Medicine, 173(4), 293–299