Medical doctors, including ear, nose and throat surgeons, do not know much about the process of hearing, even though they might be experts at operating on the physical ear.
So they are not much help, particularly to people who have just been overwhelmed by Tinnitus.
This has certainly been my experience.
Most Tinnitus is caused by damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, usually as the result of exposure to loud noise of many years.
The brain interprets the signals from these damaged hair cells as random noise or static.
You could say they are a bit like electrical wires that have lost their insulation cover.
The good news is that the human body, or rather the brain, can suppress Tinnitus by producing endorphins.
These are the same natural chemical neurotransmitters that can block out physical pain.
One of the ways to generate endorphins is to do visualization exercises.
The following ten minute exercise is also great for reducing stress and worry.
Firstly, you sit down in a quiet area, close your eyes, and imagine yourself in a very calm place.
I think of myself sitting in a small boat gently rocking on the surface of a lake surround by trees.
You might want to remember a special holiday spot.
Then count slowly up to ten.
Next, you work your way through your body starting with your toes and ending with your fingers.
For each part of the body you tense the local muscles to drive out the blood then relax, repeating this three times.
Finally you count slowly down from ten and open your eyes.
You can do these on a regular basis, particularly when you feel stressed.