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How to match your tinnitus frequency

4 min read ·

Short answer

Matching your tinnitus frequency means finding the pitch that most closely resembles the sound you hear. You compare test tones and pick which is closer, narrowing in step by step. A good match makes notched sound therapy far more precise, because the notch can sit exactly on your tinnitus.

Why the frequency matters

Most therapeutic sound approaches — especially notching — work best when they are aligned to your specific tinnitus pitch. If the frequency is off, the sound is generic; if it is close, the therapy is targeted.

Tinnitus is often a high-pitched tone or hiss, but the exact frequency is personal. That is why picking from a handful of presets rarely fits well.

Two ways to find your pitch

  • Manual sliders: you drag a control until a tone matches. Flexible, but hard to judge and easy to second-guess.
  • Guided A–B comparison: you hear two tones and simply choose which is closer to your tinnitus. Repeating this a few times converges on your frequency without any technical knowledge.

Tips for a reliable match

  • Do it in a quiet room at a comfortable volume.
  • Trust your first instinct on each comparison rather than over-analysing.
  • Re-check occasionally — tinnitus can shift, and a fresh match keeps therapy sound accurate.
Aurina

In Aurina

Aurina uses guided A–B comparisons — no sliders — so you find your frequency in a few taps, then reuses that result to notch your sounds automatically.

FAQ

What if my tinnitus has more than one tone?

Match the most dominant or bothersome pitch first. Some people have a mix; focusing on the strongest component is a practical starting point.

Is frequency matching a hearing test?

No. It only estimates the pitch of your tinnitus so sound can be tailored to it. It does not diagnose hearing loss — see an audiologist for that.

Will my matched frequency change?

It can. Tinnitus perception varies with stress, fatigue and hearing changes, so it is worth re-matching from time to time.

Sources

  1. Okamoto H, Stracke H, Stoll W, Pantev C (2010). Listening to tailor-made notched music reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity. PNAS, 107(3), 1207–1210.

Not medical advice

This article is general information, not medical advice. Aurina is a wellness app, not a medical device, and does not diagnose or treat any condition. If your tinnitus is new, one-sided, pulsatile, or comes with hearing loss or dizziness, please see a doctor.

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