Saw the ENT chap today .Basically theres no magic cure for T ( ok so I knew that). Everyones T is different . Sounds , tolerance , volume etc. How we cope is varied , have to find our own helps.
He suggested those sleep headbands. Anyone tried one that they can recommend?
Also Gingko Biloba . This I used for years the first time. Cant now cos I'm on blood thinners.
Next stop NHS Hearing aids . I tried Specsavers own ones but didnt like them and I couldnt hear the inbuilt T program anyway.
Sadly ENT are pretty rubbish when it comes to tinnitus. Its disappointing, hopefully the hearing aids will help you. You can get Bluetooth aids where you can play masking sounds via your phone. I’ve taken Gingko for years but to be honest it does nothing for me.
To be honest the ENT was a waste of time . As to the Gingko I did take it for about10 years. Maybe it did help it from getting worse, who knows? Gingko and acupuncture were the only help 20 years ago . Acupuncture did nothing except empty my bank account.
I had Amplifon hearing aids but moved over to NHS hearings aids which included maskers. However, the increased volume still played up my Hyperacusis and I was constantly decreasing/increasing the volume. The maskers were excellent. On balance I realised in the grand scheme of things, my hearing isn't that bad; I just have to position myself or ask people to repeat themselves.
I'm not sure Audiologist can do much. I'm finally going to enquire about CBT, but ultimately we have to be prepared to help ourselves. Not easy at all.
I did have one session with a lady who said she did CBT. All she did was tell me how well I was coping 
please try looking into MCBT if you find the right person it will help.
Hi there. Yes, I find ENT and most doctors don't really understand tinnitus. I use bluetooth sleepbands every night. I find the cheapest amazon variety the best and most comfortable. I keep 2 so I always have one charged up. Depending on my tinnitus I use either YouTube neuromodulation from Art Of Zen, or the Resound app. I have high frequency T. The headbands have literally changed my life. I also got an Oticon hearing aid on the NHS. Eventually. Its pretty good. It is bluetooth but I tend not to use that function. I have a set of Shokz bone conductor headphones which I use for daytime sound therapy, if I need it. These are excellent. I use them for cycling as well, as your ears are still free to hear everything else. Some people think masking is just drowning out the sound. Its not. Its getting your brain used to listening to something similar. This is why its important to get a sound roughly the same frequency as your tinnitus. Thus speeding up habituation. Good luck and hope some of this works for you also.
Thank you for your advice .I'm looking on Amazon . Buying 2 sounds good advice. I also have high frequency , apparently that's the most common one. I've more or less decided to only use one hearing aid and see if that's better. Using both the Specsavers ones made my good ear produce a T sound. I will see what the NHS come up with. Hopefully they will have more experience with T . The Specsaver audiologist admitted she didn't know anything. PS I'll look up the Zen and resound .Up to now only tried talking programs.
Likewise, I've found a BT headband, that doubles as an eye mask, makes a big difference. As you say you don't (and should NOT) drown out the tinnitus.
I also have Hyperacusis so I carry around earplugs to help with noisy everyday situations.
I found the music headband and earplugs on Amazon.
1. Deal: Sleep Headphones,Wireless Headphones Headband,Music Headband Ultra-Soft Sleeping bedheadphones Cool Gadgets for Dad/Men/Women/Teen,Bluetooth Headphones with Microphone,Birthday Gifts for Her Him amzn.eu/d/dfctZrp
2. Alpine MusicSafe Ear Plugs Hearing Protection for Musicians - 2 Filter Sets and Accessories to Enhance Your Music-Making Experience - Hypoallergenic and Reusable earplugs amzn.eu/d/1p7BWAS
Thank you for that. Will check out those earplugs as I play guitar and gig sometimes, and never really found anything musician orientated. These might do the trick.
I take Eliquis and didn't know ginko is contraindicated
The consultant said Gingko seems to help some people and it wouldnt make T worse. But it is a natural blood thinner, so you cant take them if already on prescribed blood thinners
I have a Music cozy headband which I link to the ZEN tinnitus app on my phone. It allows you to play a sound on a timer. I have used this a few times but I mostly try going through football scores in my head. However now the season is over I might have to go back to the sounds.The app also gives a little guidance on relaxation techniques which may be helpful.
Thank you . Hopefully going along the right road now .
I also use the musicozy headbands. Been a life saver. Also there’s a channel on YouTube called dalesnale noise ambient. It’s specialises in different frequencies and sounds for tinnitus sufferers. Good luck.
Hi Kelly
I've bought headphones, and headbands. I didnt really get on with the headband. In the end I am getting better at sleep anyway. I enjoy the small moment of peace waking at say 4am but it's not long-lasting. I just wanted to say you are not alone!
I've only had this coming up for 3 months. My job doesn't allow me to turn off stress either which im learning to deal with. It's worth trying headbands tho.
I hope they work for you. I have to say I've now also got heariing aids which work great except for additional symptoms of fuzziness here and there. They really got the noise down for a bit. Notch therapy I think they call it. Best of luck
Thank you .I'll make sure mine have this notch therapy. Several people here have mentioned this. My T does seem to have got louder , so whatever I'm doing is not working .
Hi
When I saw the consultant at ENT he said Ginko Bilbao may help but I checked the Tinnitus UK website and it said not to use. All the treatment recommendations seem to have moved or been deleted at present though?
I've tried hearing aids with just normal function but no success so far.
I've also tried a sleep headband but if seems to have a similar effect to putting in earplugs in that it makes my perception of the Tinnitus louder.
The only thing that has made any difference I have noticed is when I have an alcoholic drink the Tinnitus will reduce for a while but then come back louder at an unspecific time after. Maybe this is just the alcohol helping me to relax and forget about it for a bit.
Going for some Tinnitus Retraining Therapy today, will let you know if this helps.
Pity I dont drink alcohol !! Funny how the ENT dept still advises Gingko. But the Tinnitus website says not to .
To be fair I think so one has left at my ent department so they are short staffed.
I didn't get TRT but some new programs on my hearing aids. You can do loads with them but via your smartphone.
I wasn't being serious about alcohol as a cure as you probably guessed but I think we each have to learn to cope the best we can.
Its ok . I rather thought it was tongue in cheek. X
The Tinnitus website is quite negative on supplements that people take for tinnitus. They don’t really recommend anything, even things that some people can find helpful. There was a trial of a certain type of Ginkgo in Germany for people with one sided vascular tinnitus, and for those people it did help a bit. I’ve taken ginkgo for years and it does nothing for me, to be honest. You can’t take it if you are on blood thinners but otherwise I would think it’s ok to try.
It never made mine worse . I think I'd have tried toilet cleaner if I thought it might help
I tried that, it made my face flushed. I had to stop in case I went round the bend.
.Thank you .That really made me laugh.
Dont despair. Eventually either the tinnitus is not such a nuisance or you just get used to. Not easy to do I know. I have hearing aids in both ears and have had for the past 15 years or so. Tinnitus started really loud over the past twelve months. I have been very stressed and that certainly does not help. Now on various meds for depression and in a better place.
Hot weather seems to affect my tinnitus or perhaps I am more tired because of the heat.
I play gentle piano music via an app (on an Echo Dot) overnight and find it quite soothing.
well my original T did fade into virtually the tiniest sound which I hardly noticed. Just hoping this one will too eventually . Takes years but cant remember how long
Private ENT
T has become unbearably loud at night - total torture
habituation 
Loop earplugs
Spinal Stenosis
