Hi all!
I first developed tinnitus a year or so ago. I've long suffered from waxy ears (gross haha) and had them syringed a few times. Last year following having this done I developed a bad ear infection and ended up with tinnitus. It is relatively mild - I only really notice it at night and I can't hear it over running water. My concern is that I woke up last week and for some reason was suddenly so so conscious of it, I can't tell if this is because it's got louder or simply because I've started paying more attention to it. Either way after a year of not being bothered by it, it scares me.
My question is this - veterans of tinnitus, what advice would you give yourself if your could go back to when you first developed it? Any advice at all is appreciated - anything that works at reducing the volume or masking it or helping me take my mind off it. I'm only 22 and terrified that I'll have it all my life. to be honest at the moment I think that's what's bothering me more than the sound - the thought that it might get worse or take over my life in the future. Please help, I really want to tackle this now!!
Sorry for the long post.
Becks

Hi Everyone.

Never thought this would happen to me. X-Mas last year was in a night club and exposed to terrible lound music through a hugh speaker, since then the Tinitus has came on and off, over the past few weeks now ive now got this noise constantly in my head nad its scaring me, its afecting my daily life and i dont think i can cope if this gets any worse. Is there anybody out there who can give me advise, will this get worse, can it disapear, does it mean im going deaf?

All comments are valued grately.

Hi.

It's unlikely to disappear, but provided you take care of your hearing, you will most likely habituate to the sound to the point where most of the time you are not aware that it is there.

You also will NOT go deaf if you protect your hearing adequately. It's probably worth a doctor's visit and referral to an audiology department who can test your hearing for you to ease fears you are losing your hearing.

Meanwhile in my opinion the best sites for information and advice are:

1) RNID Tune Out Tinnitus
2) RNID Don't Lose the Music
3) American Tinnitus Association
4) British Tinnitus Association

They'll be the first hits on a google search.

Best of luck.