Bell Rung – Maybe Some Tinnitus Relief

Get the App

Bell Rung is available on the App Store. Tap the icon to open it on your device.

How to Use Bell Rung

I built Bell Rung because I have tinnitus and wanted a simple way to experiment with sounds that might help. The app gives you several audio modes — try them to find what works best for you.

1. Choose your audio mode

Tone — generates a pure tone you can tune to match your tinnitus frequency.
White / Pink / Brown Noise — broadband noise for general masking.
Music — plays a track from your Apple Music library through the app's audio engine.
Microphone — passes live audio from your device mic through to your headphones in real time.

2. Tune the tone (Tone mode)

Use headphones at a safe, comfortable volume.
Slide the frequency controls until the tone resembles your tinnitus sound.
Adjust left and right ears separately if your tinnitus differs between ears.

3. Set the on/off cycle

Choose how long the sound plays (e.g., 5 seconds on).
Choose the pause between cycles (e.g., 5 seconds off).
The cycle repeats until you stop it.

4. Optional: Vibration and flashlight cues

Turn on vibration for a physical cue in sync with the audio cycle.
Enable the flashlight option for a visual cue in sync with the cycle.
These are optional — use what feels comfortable.

5. Start and stop

Press Play to begin.
See how you feel when the sound stops — some people (like me) get a brief moment of relief.
Press Stop anytime.

⚠️ Microphone mode — headphones required Using Microphone mode with the device speaker active can create audio feedback at potentially harmful volumes. Always use headphones when Microphone mode is enabled.

Everyone's tinnitus is different. You may need to experiment with modes, frequency, and timing to find what works for you.

Why This Might Work

Bell Rung is inspired by something I personally noticed: when I matched a tone to my tinnitus and then stopped it, I sometimes felt a short moment of relief.

This relates to concepts like tinnitus habituation and residual inhibition. In simple terms:

Some people experience temporary quiet right after a matching tone stops.
Regular, controlled sound exposure may help the brain pay less attention to tinnitus over time.
Noise masking can make tinnitus less noticeable in the moment, even if the effect doesn't persist.

Bell Rung lets you experiment with:

Precise tone matching
White, pink, and brown noise masking
Music playback and microphone passthrough
On/off sound cycles
Optional vibration and flashlight cues

If you're curious, look up "tinnitus habituation" or "residual inhibition". I truly hope you find even a few moments of quiet.

Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Effective Date: June 2, 2026 · Contact: makeitstop@iamnota.doctor

What Bell Rung Does

Bell Rung generates tones, white/pink/brown noise, plays music from your device library, or passes through audio from the device microphone — all for personal use as a sound-masking aid. It can also drive the device flashlight and vibration motor as part of a configurable cycle.

Data We Collect

None. Bell Rung does not collect, store, transmit, sell, or share any personal information or usage data. There are no accounts, no analytics, no third-party SDKs, no advertising, and no network requests. Everything you configure stays on your device.

Data Stored on Your Device

Your tone settings, noise mode, vibration preference, flashlight settings, and timers are saved locally on your device only.

Permissions Bell Rung May Request

The following iOS permissions may be requested when you use specific features. In all cases, data is used only locally and is never recorded, transmitted, or retained beyond the current session.

🎙 Microphone

Used only in Microphone mode. Live audio is routed in real time to your output device and is not recorded, stored, or transmitted. The microphone is released when you stop playback or switch modes.

🎵 Apple Music / Media Library

Used only in Music mode. Bell Rung reads song titles, artist names, artwork, and playback identifiers from your local library so you can pick a track. Nothing about your library is transmitted off-device.

🔊 Background Audio

While playback is active, Bell Rung continues producing audio when the screen is locked or the app is backgrounded. Playback stops automatically when you tap Stop, headphones disconnect, or another app interrupts the audio session.

🔦 Flashlight (Torch)

When flashlight is enabled in cycle mode, Bell Rung activates the rear-camera torch in sync with the audio cycle. The camera itself is never accessed; no video or images are captured.

📳 Haptics (Vibration)

When vibration is enabled, Bell Rung triggers the system haptics engine in sync with the audio cycle. No data is collected from the haptic system.

Third-Party Services

Bell Rung uses no third-party services, SDKs, or analytics. All features rely solely on Apple's iOS frameworks.

Children's Privacy

Bell Rung collects nothing from anyone, including children. The app is intended for adults or supervised use.

Changes to This Policy

If Bell Rung ever adds online features or this policy changes materially, the updated version will be published here with a new effective date.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Bell Rung and its publisher are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. The publisher disclaims all liability for damages including hearing damage, photosensitive reactions, equipment damage, or data loss arising from use or misuse of the app. By using Bell Rung you agree to use it at your own risk and in accordance with the safety guidance on this page.

Important Disclaimer & Safety

I am not a doctor. This is not a medical device or medical advice. Bell Rung is a sound-generation tool for personal experimentation. Results vary widely.

Hearing Safety

Always start at low volume and increase only as needed.
Take regular breaks from continuous audio exposure.
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds — including those generated by this app — can cause permanent hearing damage.
Stop immediately if anything feels uncomfortable, and consult a doctor or audiologist.

⚠️ Microphone passthrough warning Microphone mode amplifies live ambient audio through your output device. Using it with the device speaker can create feedback at potentially harmful volumes. Use headphones only when Microphone mode is active.

Photosensitivity Warning

The flashlight feature pulses the device torch in sync with the audio cycle. If you have a history of photosensitive epilepsy or seizures triggered by flashing light, do not enable the flashlight feature and consult a qualified healthcare professional before using the app.

Not a Medical Device

Bell Rung is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition — including tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disorders, or anxiety. Any relief some users perceive is not clinically established by this app. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for any medical concern.

Wishing you peace, even if just for a moment.