Toward Habituation?

[Blair14]

Masking does not promote habituation directly.

However, would masking assist in moving indirectly toward habituation by developing your "focused attention", then that skill can eventually be applied as "focused distraction" but ... then lead to habituation?

I am suggesting this if your brain insists on monitoring your T volume.

Thoughts?

 

[I who love music]

Masking never did a thing for me, except cover up the T a little. Then I'd check to see if the T was still a certain frequency, loudness, which ear, etc...
I learned that if you keep looking for something, you'll find it.
Maybe masking works great for some people.

 

[st0rch]

At first I masked all the time, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that as the first couple months / years are the hardest ... But like the user above me stated, it makes you constantly aware that you are masking tinnitus, which makes it hard to remove from your thought process.

Eventually, I turned the white noise off and took it face on. I am now sometimes able to fall asleep without even noticing it, though I know I'm not fully habituated. You need to make some changes, like not visiting this website as much (unless you need to) and living life as if the tinnitus isnt there. Eventually it becomes second nature. At least, this has been my experience.

 

[Blair14]

@I who love music

I never masked either, but I had a thought that if your focus is not on the T, but something louder (perhaps a week or two?), your brain would get trained to focus better?? then, fall back to lowering whatever is used for masking to a level below the T or perhaps nothing at all, because your brain will be able to focus and be distracted, like exercising a muscle that is not in shape. Particularly if one's brain struggles with fixation "checking-in".

 

[Blair14]

@st0rch

I hear you, no pun intended. I am using a bell melody just below my ringing and it seems to screw with my brain focus on T, I hear the melody, but have to consciously listen for the T. My thought was if I mask it totally, perhaps when I unmask my brain has adapted or been training to "focus" on something else, rather than fixate on the T. I used to frequent very often, now just check in periodically, not racked with anxiety and stress anymore, just still trying to work on living life as if the tinnitus isn't there.