I have Tinnitus also. It's a result of Minear's Disease that came on about 8 years ago. Minears (incurable disease of the inner ear) causes a constant motion in the fluid in the inner ear which is interpreted as sound. Mine sounds similiar to the cicadas you hear in the trees in late summer. 24/7 sometimes louder than others but always there. It interferes with my hearing because if someone doesn't speak above the "noise" I can't understand them. I'm told that in time I'll probably loose all or most of my hearing because the stereocilla (the little hair cells in the inner ear) are only good for just so many inputs and then they wear out (why old folks have trouble hearing). Just to add a little excitement Minears can mess with you equilibrium and I occassionally have severe vertigo for which I get to have a ride to the hospital in an ambulance and get pumped full of drugs.

Oh well, such is life.

Pelkey