Today, insomnia has become a widespread issue that negatively affects the quality of life for many people. Noisy neighbors, motor or vehicle sounds coming through open windows, or creaking noises inside the house can disrupt your sleep. On top of all that, some people prefer to sleep with the sound of YouTube or the TV. So, could sleeping with noise not be as unhealthy as it seems?

YouTube or TV sound: What is brown noise?

According to research, certain sounds like white and brown noise can help promote deeper and uninterrupted sleep. Recently gaining popularity on TikTok, brown noise is said to help people, especially those diagnosed with ADHD, relax and fall asleep more easily.

Brown noise offers a deeper and more natural tone with low-frequency sounds, whereas white noise has a higher-pitched sound that covers all frequencies. White noise, like the sound of a fan or radio static, provides a more continuous and static sound.

Scientific studies offer evidence of the positive effects of white noise on sleep. In a 2017 study, white noise was found to reduce the time it took participants to fall asleep by 38%. Similarly, a 2021 study in New York showed that people living in noisy environments experienced a significant improvement in their sleep quality when listening to white noise.

Research on brown noise is not yet as extensive as that on white noise. However, many people report that these lower-frequency sounds are more soothing, especially for sensitive ears.

In conclusion, there isn’t a definitive scientific answer about which type of sound is better, but personal preference seems to play a significant role. Some people prefer white noise, while others find brown noise more relaxing.

Ultimately, it depends on which sound you find more calming. The source of the noise is also important; some may use headphones, while others prefer the sound from a TV or YouTube videos, and it doesn’t seem to be as unhealthy as once thought.