Carolyn C

I have had slight tinnitus for a long time however it was at the level that I didn't notice it except in silence. I noticed some increase in loudness about six months ago. More recently, stupidly, I went to a small restaurant with painfully loud amplified acoustic guitar. My husband and I were there maybe four times in the last month for perhaps one hour and a half to two hours. I did not notice a change immediately but now I have very increased volume. It is most scary when I wake up from sleep in the night at which time it is the loudest. Not sure if it's actually making me wake up. But I can hear the "hiss" just about any time during the day. I guess I am in state of shock that this happened. I try to think it is only a noise and won't hurt me, but still very upsetting. I'm not sure exactly what habituation means, probably that you get so used to it that you don't actually "hear" or hearing it just doesn't bother you anymore? Not sure if it is worth seeing an ENT because I assume there are still not a lot of therapies. The forum has already been very helpful in making me feel as alone.