I'm new to this group, but not new to tinnitus.  For the past 12 years,
I have lived with the fact that my woodworking hobby probably caused
permanent and irreversible damage to my ears.  My audiologist said that
my hearing loss and tinnitus makes me a candidate for hearing aids --
but 12 years after that diagnosis, I have still not given in to hearing
aids.

Now, at age 35, my tinnitus is becoming increasingly worse, though I
have not used power tools regularly for nearly 12 years (and never
without hearing protection).  I'm having more difficulty understanding
normal conversation.  If I don't think the words I missed were
important, I'll simply pretend to understand what was said rather than
constantly ask people to repeat themselves.

Last year, I went to an audiologist again.  She said my the frequencies
in my hearing loss (and probably my perceiving ringing) were making it
difficult to understand speech.  She recommended the new digital,
amplifying, in-the-ear type hearing aids.  My fear is that
amplification would gradually make my hearing even worse.

Now, I've made an appointment to see an ENT.  Maybe there's an
alternative to hearing aids, or there's a procedure that can be done --
or SOMETHING!  I believe that finding the most effective treatment
could depend on my ability to ask my doctor the right questions.  Does
anyone have some advice?

~ David