Rick
Hi Tori, Hope you are doing well despite your Tinnitus. I had already posted a reply, but after reading postings from other people with similar issues, I felt I had reemphasize something. I, like you, have extremely bad chronic Tinnitus. I've been told by doctors from testing that it can be as loud as 50-60dB for me, and that was years ago. It has since gotten even louder. I do have thought from time to time that it might drive me crazy. I also have had many sleepness nights and difficulty focusing on life. When offered medication from my doctors, I refused, because my family history includes substance addiction. Don't want to go there. So I have found other ways of dealing with it. Keeping busy and keeping ambient sound around me at all times has helped tremendously! Let me say there is hope, don't give up. There is a lot of medical research being done into the possible causes of Tinnitus. They now know it has as much to do with brain functions as it does any hearing disorder. They can detect it with fMRI and other measurement techniques. They have come a long way since I first started having it 18 years ago. Let me reemphasize the importance of the American Tinnitus Association. You can see them on the Internet at www.ata.org. They have an amazing amount of info on Tinnitus. More than most doctors I've seen. They can even refer you to specialists in your area who specialize in dealing with people with Tinnitus. More importantly, you will find people there who understand what you, I, and everyone who has Tinnitus is going through. That organization has made a huge difference in my life!!! I hope that it will help you and everyone else with Tinnitus as much as it has helped me. Take Care, Rick