How black noise challenges our perception of silence and sound
Black noise is reshaping how people think about sound and silence. Often misunderstood, it challenges common beliefs about what feels calming or unsettling. For some, absolute quiet triggers anxiety, while others rely on it to focus or relax.
The term black noise divides experts in acoustic psychology. Some describe it as true silence—zero energy across all frequencies. Others define it as disruptive, meaningless sounds that disturb without providing useful information. This ambiguity makes it a controversial topic in sound therapy.
The brain never experiences true silence. Even in quiet spaces, the nervous system scans for patterns and signals. This constant processing explains why some people find absolute stillness uncomfortable. Sarah, a former city dweller, struggled after moving to a quiet suburb. The lack of background noise left her feeling uneasy and anxious. Reactions to black noise reveal how individuals regulate attention, emotions, and arousal. Tolerance varies widely: some need it to concentrate, while others find it intolerable. Maximilian Bauer, a clinical audiologist specialising in tinnitus and hearing loss, avoids pure noise in therapy. Instead, he favours structured sounds like nature recordings, which he argues are more effective for relaxation and rehabilitation. Bauer’s research extends beyond black noise. His work includes binaural squelch effects, Alzheimer’s hearing tests via the SAPHIR study, and therapies like Lenire neuromodulation. Yet his scepticism toward unstructured noise highlights its divisive nature in treatment. Understanding black noise has practical applications. It can inform sleep routines, office acoustics, and stress management. Even personal relationships benefit when partners have conflicting sound preferences.
Black noise forces a rethink of how sound—or its absence—affects daily life. Recognising individual differences in noise tolerance can lead to better choices in living and working environments. From therapy to home design, its paradoxes offer insights into human perception and wellbeing.
