When I first developed Tinnitus there was nothing that could mask it. It was louder than any surrounding noise x1000. Over time that has changed. I can't tell if I've just become accustomed to hearing it and don't notice it as much, or if it has actually diminished. The mind is indeed powerful.

However, if I am subjected to loud noises, or anything that exacerbates my Tinnitus, it still drowns out any background sounds, but it eventually fades again to it's usual level of annoyance and I can deal with it.

Although whenever that happens, I am always terrified at the fact that I might have made it worse, and that it will stay that loud forever. But fortunately for me, it has stayed at a constant level and while it's annoying for sure, it's definitely manageable.

I have had tinnitus for 5 years and when it first began nothing could drown out the sound not even music, but it got to the point that I couldn't hear it during the day with all the daily activity. It is now back to the way it was when it first started five years ago. This isn't the first time it has flared back up, but it seems to be taking longer to settle back down and I am doing way more things to try to accomplish this task. I think I may be stuck with this new form of tinnitus, but I hope I am wrong.

Maybe your hearing has deteriorated? A trip to a good audiologist to get your hearing and tinnitus checked might be a good idea.

Mairi2,

I have already seen an ENT and have gotten my hearing checked. The hearing test showed extremely minimal high frequency hearing loss in my right ear which is where my tinnitus is located. The ENT and Audiologist both stated that the loss is a high frequency pitch sat at a very low level and since I heard all of the other high frequency pitches that they weren't sure if it is a true loss or if my tinnitus was interferring with the test and to come back when I thought my tinnitus improved for another test. To be honest with you my tinnitus was pretty good that day and during the test it increased I think that certain pitches bothered it.

Hi , Have you tried listening to the pink noise cd just a thought ..dd

I have high frequency loss and I wear hearing aids which have helped me enormously. I took me over two years though to find an audiologist who understood tinnitus and finally got it right. I had seen about 3 ENTS's and 4 audiologists before him to no avail, I tried a device call Tipa that didn't work and tried hearing aids that only mnade it worse. It is a bloody hard road to find what will work for you.

I wish I had been able to ignore it when I first got it, after three years and all the reading and research I have done, I now know that that is the best thing you can do. Maybe if the doctors I went to had been more supportive, explained things to me better instead of fobbing me of with ' get used to it' I might have, I doubt it though. Tinnitus latches onto people who latch onto it, that is a fact that we can't escape.

It sounds like U have "reactive tinnitus" like I do in addition to hyperacusis" tho I'm not sure if they are the same thing or not? My tinnitus amplifies with any sound...I too find if I keep busy, it's better than in a quiet house tho I get tired of noise all the time in addition to the noise in my head:(
I have nodules/swimmer's ears so nothing fits well in my ears:(
I agree with making peace with your tinnitus and using relaxation techniques-like it is getting quieter and deep breathing also helps esp in night...

Sometimes my tinnitus reacts to my surrounding sound and sometimes it doesn't. Some days masking works and some days it doesn't. Sometimes it reacts and then doesn't stop when the noise goes away. I played a Bollywood song a few hours ago and my ears have been extra loud ever since. It will probably take a day or so for it to go back down.