What it is
Brown noise is a steady, low-frequency hum · deeper and softer than white noise. For a lot of ADHD and autistic brains, it sits underneath the auditory chaos of a normal environment and gives the focus circuit something to lean on. It's not music. There's nothing to anticipate. That's the whole point.
How to use
- Hit play. Adjust the volume to a level that feels like a presence, not a sound.
- Optionally toggle the 60-minute timer if you want it to stop on its own.
- Put on headphones for the cleanest version, or use speakers if your environment allows.
- Pair it with a single task. Leave it running. Close the tab when you're done.
Why it helps
A constant, predictable audio signal reduces the auditory system's need to scan the environment for new inputs. For brains that are sensitive to background noise (or that struggle to ignore it), this can free up a meaningful amount of working memory. It is not a focus aid because it is interesting. It is a focus aid because it is uninteresting.
Accessibility & safety
- Volume defaults to a low level (about 30%). Adjust upward only as needed.
- No autoplay. You always have to press play.
- No flashing visuals, no animation that ignores prefers-reduced-motion.
- Generated client-side in your browser using the Web Audio API. Nothing streams, nothing leaves your device.
- If you experience tinnitus that worsens with low-frequency sound, this tool may not be for you. Try the Acoustic Shield lab instead, which lets you blend higher frequencies in.
When it helps
- Trying to read or write in a too-quiet room where every small sound becomes a distraction.
- Working in a too-loud room where the noise has too much information in it.
- That late-evening hour when the day has ended but the brain hasn't.
- Bridging a transition between two tasks when the gap is the thing making it hard to start.
When it doesn't
- When you're tired and need rest, not focus aid. Noise can keep the brain pretending it's still working when it isn't.
- When you've got the volume up too high. Brown noise that's too loud stops being a floor and becomes the thing you're paying attention to.
- When the actual problem is sensory overload, not under-stimulation. In that case, do the Sensory Audit first.