If you live with tinnitus, you know the feeling — a ringing, buzzing, or hissing that follows you into every quiet room. It's worse at night, when there's nothing to drown it out. And for most people, the hardest part isn't the sound itself. It's not knowing what to do about it.

That's exactly why we recommend the ReSound Relief app to many of our tinnitus patients. It's free, it's built specifically for tinnitus, and it's backed by real science. Here's what you need to know.

Why Sound Therapy Works

Tinnitus doesn't have a cure — and we'd rather be upfront about that than give you false hope. But "no cure" doesn't mean "nothing helps." Sound therapy is one of the most well-supported approaches for making tinnitus easier to live with, and the idea behind it is simple.

When your brain has external sound to focus on, it naturally pulls attention away from the tinnitus. Think of background music in a busy restaurant — the noise around you doesn't disappear, but it stops being the only thing you notice. Sound therapy works the same way. It gives your brain something else to process, so the ringing feels less front-and-center.

With consistent use over time, many people reach a point called habituation — where the brain learns to treat the tinnitus signal as unimportant background noise rather than something that demands attention. That's the long-term goal.

What the App Actually Gives You

ReSound Relief is available for free on both iPhone and Android. It includes a library of sounds — ocean waves, rainfall, white noise, nature sounds — that you can layer and customize to build something that actually works for you.

Download the ReSound Relief app: App Store (iPhone) | Google Play (Android)

Here's what stands out:

• Sound mixer — combine up to three sounds and adjust each volume independently, so you're not stuck with a one-size-fits-all option
• Relaxation exercises — guided breathing and mindfulness content, because stress is one of the biggest drivers of how intense tinnitus feels
• Sleep support — sounds fade out gradually as you fall asleep, so you're not jolted awake when the audio stops
• Activity tracker — log how your tinnitus affects you day to day, which gives you useful data to share at your next appointment

One more thing worth mentioning: the app pairs directly with ReSound Vivia hearing aids, which we carry at Sioux Falls Audiology Associates. If you wear hearing aids and deal with tinnitus, that integration is a real advantage. You can stream relief sounds straight through your aids — no earbuds, no extra speakers needed.

How to Get the Most Out of It

Sound therapy isn't an on/off switch. The patients who benefit most are the ones who build it into their daily routines — playing it during work, winding down before bed, or pulling it up whenever the tinnitus spikes. Consistency over weeks and months is what drives results.

It also helps to use the relaxation tools, not just the sounds. Stress and tinnitus feed each other in a frustrating cycle: the more stressed you are, the louder tinnitus seems. The more intrusive it feels, the harder it is to relax. Combining sound therapy with the app's breathing exercises can break that cycle more effectively than sound alone.

The app is a tool, not a full treatment plan. It works best as part of a broader strategy put together with someone who understands your specific situation.

What to Expect Over Time

Results vary from person to person, and they don't happen overnight. Some people notice they're less bothered by tinnitus within a few weeks. For others, it takes longer. What research consistently shows is that regular use makes a meaningful difference — not by eliminating the sound, but by changing how your brain responds to it.

If you've tried sound therapy before and didn't stick with it, that's worth revisiting. A lot of people give up before habituation has a chance to kick in. Even small, consistent steps add up over time.

Tinnitus Support in Sioux Falls

At Sioux Falls Audiology Associates, Dr. Mandy Rounseville-Norgaard works with tinnitus patients every day. She understands firsthand what it's like to navigate life with hearing challenges, and that experience shapes every appointment.

Whether you're newly dealing with tinnitus or you've been managing it for years without much relief, there are options worth exploring — from sound therapy and hearing aids with built-in tinnitus support to other management strategies tailored to you.

Give us a call at 605-306-3050 to talk through what might help. We're here to find what works for you.