Use background noise when doing WILD?

Does anyone who performs WILDs use loud fans or background noise? I can't sleep without a fan because my ears ring loudly (tinnitus). Will having background noise keep me from doing a WILD? Once I get into deep trance should the background noise disappear? I never experience the Hypnagogic Imagery or other mentioned phenomenon, so I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I could lay there for two hours and never experience anything but slight numbness and tingling. Should I keep my mind blank or should I focus on my breathing? I have heard both suggested.

i keep on white noise every night. presumably the mind acclamates. but if the tinnitus is keeping you awake, perhaps that is the real issue.

for me when i go into a trance deep enough all else fades away to a different level of awareness. i would try focusing on your breathing. breathe from the (imagined) back of your heart so you don't have to think about what you are doing. that's very relaxing.

The tinnitus don't bother me with the fan on. I just wanted to make sure I didn't have to use sensory deprivation or something to achieve WILD. Do you have to be an expert at relaxing to achieve WILD? Is that the key or is it mostly mental?