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Hi Bradley -

I've have tinnitus since 1994.  It really did get the better of me for
a good while, but by 1996-97 I had habituated to the extent that I
could fully enjoy life again.  An article about my experience was
published earlier this year in the "Otolaryngolic Clinics of North
America."  If you like, you can read the text at:
http://www.tinn.com/clinics.doc

Here's to silent days a head for all!

smn

Hi Bradley,

I've had tinnitus for about 6 years.  It was tough for the first couple of
years but I "habituated" it.  This group was very helpful.

Bill

I have had loud, intrusive, multi-sound T for about 7 years. It came on over
a period of weeks. The beginning, especially the first anxiety-ridden 6
months, were brutal for me, but this group was very helpful. Over the first
two years I tried everthing - masking, TRT, hypnosis, gingko, even basking
in the rays of Martian Death Beams - everything! I believe that hypnosis and
TRT (simultaneously) helped me the most. So it was either one or the other
or both.  In any event, I still have loud T but it is much less intrusive
and seemingly so as the months go by (I have not worn the TRT devices for
over a year).

Regardng your coment, "giving your ears a break between concerts(6 months
apart is my recommendation next to not going at all)", I would suggest
custom made ear plugs. I believe, but am not certain, that sound damage is
additive. Is so, even breaks between concerts can have deleterious effects.
But, with the appropriate protection, you're A-ok.

take care,

PaulS

I have had T since 1992.

I got it buy playing drums . . . lots of loud gigs.

I played some month with the T but stopped then.

The first couple of month was horrible but then I forgot about it.

In 1996 I realised that I couldn't just forget about the music so I started
building up a home studio where I could control the sound level myself.

But controlling the level is harder than said, so I have got mere T over the
years.And it's hard to forget about tinnitus whan you have to be aware of
loud sounds all the time and have to check to make sure that the T isn't
getting worse.
The listning to checke if it's getting worse is the stupid part and makes
total habituation imposible.

I can't stop working with music though it seems the T is getting worse over
the years.
( can't cell my music equipment and my soul and by a golden chess board -
fore I am not a chess player ).

But there is good and bad periods and it also has something to do with some
kind of biorythm. It's not just the level of T but also how you think about
it.

The fact that there is so much research going on in the field makes me
comfortable that in ten or 20 years there will be an ultimate cure.

Till then stay happy and live your life.

link: a new European hair cell regeneration patent
http://www.soundpharmaceuticals.com/patent.html