Barb - I can't sleep without my " noise maker". It blocks out the sound of my old creaky house, and the cats next door ( I have two, so they get close to the window and hiss). I'm also close to a rail road track and it helps mask the noise. Mine is an NSA air filter, which doesn't work as an air filter anymore, but still gives forth the noise I need to sleep. Think we can become addicted to that noise? Best wishes, Jo Ann