Tamarama

My experience with tinnitus started when I was a kid, at about eight years old. I'm not sure what caused it. It may have been a combination of things-- I'm no expert on the subject. I haven't really researched it-- just learned to live with it. I had several ear infections as a child and had ear tubes installed, had a tonsilectomy, plus, we went to the airport several times a year(usually around the holidays) to pick up visiting relatives. We often hung around outside and watched the incoming planes land and take off until they arrived. I remember that they were very loud and how we had to cover our ears whenever they started to take off. My memory of the first occurrence happened like a nightmare. I remember waking up one night to an awful ringing sound in my ears that steadily grew louder and louder, till I could no longer bear it and jumped out of the bed and ran from the room crying. I wound up sleeping on the living room floor that night close beside the aquarium. It was the only way to find any relief. The white noise from the air pump was soothing. After that, I started using a fan to sleep with at night-- or the radio-- or the refrigerator-- or the tv-- whatever white noise was available. I tried to explain it to my mother but she didn't understand or believe me. She would often later sneak into my room and turn off the fan, which would only wake me up, because I would hear my ears start to ring in my sleep. It's been a hard 40 years... and very frustrating. Thank goodness for sound machines-- and sound apps on my phone! They have really helped me to be able to relax and sleep at night-- just to help me endure being in a quiet room!