We’ve all been there: nestled into clean beds, with the smartphone turned off and the curtains closed, but wide awake.
On some days, falling asleep can feel impossible despite your best efforts. But there may be one more thing you can do – and it’s hidden in your iPhone.
Apple engineers have included a capability for iOS 15 and later operating systems that play white noise through your iPhone.
White noise refers to a sound that comprises all audible frequencies in equal proportions. Such as static from an untuned radio or television.
The frequency range that humans can hear is between 20 and 20,000 Hertz. A very low organ pipe may create a 20-Hertz sound, whilst a dog whistle maybe 20,000 Hertz.
This is why it is referred to as “white” noise, about light, which appears white when all its frequencies are in a single beam.
It reduces the distinction between ambient noise and brain-stimulating noises like traffic or a barking dog, helping you sleep.
You may download six calming background sounds onto your iPhone and play them throughout the night.
These may be accessed through the Settings app by selecting ‘Accessibility’ and then ‘Audio/Visual’ under ‘Accessibility’.
Then, select ‘Background Sounds,’ and the switch at the top of the list will toggle the noise on and off.
iPhones have white noise
There are six noises to pick from when you click ‘Sound’: ‘Balanced Noise,’ ‘Bright Noise,’ ‘Dark Noise,’ ‘Ocean,’ ‘Rain,’ and ‘Stream.’
‘Balanced Noise’ is the standard static noise, although ‘Bright Noise’ and ‘Dark Noise’ has slightly higher and lower pitch, respectively.
“Ocean” is waves crashing on a beach, “Rain” is droplets pattering, and “Stream” is water trickling.
You may also adjust the noise’s volume and whether it continues when the phone is locked or when playing media.
If you don’t want to enter Settings every time you want to activate the feature, you may configure a shortcut so that a triple-click on the side button performs the same thing.
To activate the shortcut, go to the Accessibility menu, select “Accessibility Shortcut,” and then check “Background Sounds.”
On social media, ‘brown noise’ and ‘pink noise’ have also been touted as good sleep aids, in addition to ‘white noise
All three sounds, sometimes known as sonic colors, are persistent noises with little pitch variations and no discernible rhythm.
They all function in the same manner, blocking disruptive sounds to help you sleep or concentrate.
Pink noise encompasses all human-perceivable frequencies, with the exception that the higher frequencies have been purposefully lowered to provide a deeper sound than white noise.
Because lower-frequency sounds are comparatively more intense, this should be especially helpful for masking higher-frequency sounds.
Examples include rain, wind, leaves rustling, and the heartbeat.
Brown noise derives its name from ‘Brownian motion,’ which is the random motion of particles in a fluid as they collide with one another.
By using random impulses, the music creates a static effect.
Since lower frequencies are boosted and higher notes are muted, it sounds like white noise but is gentler.
It reduces the intensity of high frequencies more drastically than pink noise and can be compared to the sound of gentle thunder, waterfalls, or a flowing river.
Doctors advise against playing these sounds to infants while they sleep, even though they may assist adults to fall asleep.
It could hinder youngsters from becoming acclimated to normal outdoor sounds, according to NHS blog entries.
Similarly, a 2014 study warned that white noise machines frequently surpass the permissible noise levels for youngsters and can cause hearing/speech issues.
