The science of hearing, explained.

What we publish

Two things, both free:

1. Interactive tools. Standard audiology procedures implemented in your browser with the Web Audio API. The flagship tool is the Tinnitus Frequency Matcher, which walks you through the pure-tone pitch match audiologists use clinically, with an explicit octave-confusion check.
2. Editorial notes. A growing library of plain-language summaries of research from NIDCD, Mayo Clinic, AAO-HNS, NHS UK, NIOSH (CDC), and the British Tinnitus Association.

What we will not do

• Diagnose your symptoms or replace seeing a licensed audiologist or otolaryngologist.
• Use a fabricated "Dr. X" persona to lend false authority to articles. Articles are signed "The Ear Lab editorial desk."
• Recommend supplements, devices, or therapies by name as cures.
• Use hard-banned health claims like "cure," "treats," "heals," "reverse," "guaranteed," "FDA-approved," or "clinically proven" in any of our writing or video scripts.
• Run sponsored content or accept payments to alter editorial framing.

Editorial framing and credentials

We are an editorial desk, not licensed practitioners. We do not claim medical credentials we do not have. Where an article requires clinical judgement (for example, "should I get an MRI for unilateral tinnitus?"), we point to the relevant professional guideline and recommend you see a clinician. We do not stand in for one.

Sister channel: @TheEarLab on YouTube

The Ear Lab also runs a YouTube channel that publishes short explainers on tinnitus, hearing, and the strange biology of the ear. The channel and this site share an editorial team. Both follow the same compliance rails: no medical advice, no banned claim words, primary-source citations on every claim, and a "for educational purposes only" disclosure on every piece of content.

If you find one of our videos useful, the matching article on this site is usually linked in the description. If you find an article useful, there is often a video covering the same topic at a different depth.

Sources we cite

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• Mayo Clinic Tinnitus reference
• American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
• NHS UK Tinnitus
• NIOSH (CDC) Noise and Hearing
• British Tinnitus Association (BTA)

How the tools work

All audio in our tools is generated locally in your browser via the Web Audio API. Nothing is uploaded. Your matched tinnitus pitch is stored only in your browser's localStorage if you choose to save it. Sound levels are software-capped to a safe ceiling regardless of slider position.

The methods are documented at the bottom of each tool's page, with the literature references that define them. We implement standard clinical procedures, not novel methods.

Ownership and monetization disclosure

The Ear Lab is an independent editorial project. Operating cost is covered by the publisher. If we ever add affiliate links, display advertising, sponsored content, or paid product tiers, it will be disclosed in two places: at the top of each affected page, and in this section. Until that disclosure appears, you can assume zero financial conflict of interest.

Where we link to commercial products (hearing aids, sound therapy apps, hearing protection), the links are editorial recommendations of categories, not paid placements. If we add genuine affiliate links in future, they will be marked rel="sponsored" and disclosed inline.

Corrections

If you find a factual error, please write to us via the contact page. We publish a dated correction at the top of the affected article and keep a changelog. We do not silently edit live articles to fix errors, we attach a visible correction.

Privacy

See our privacy notes. We do not run Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, behavioral ad networks, or any tracking that follows readers across the web. The site loads as static HTML. Tools generate audio locally.