I've had tinnitus as long as I can remember -- my mother has too so I probably 'inherited' it from her.
Most of the time it doesn't bother me, and it's
never prevented me from reading.
I have had some success in making it back off, when it gets particularly bad, by concentrating on it, and ... I guess
willing it to lessen. I can't really explain it satisfactorily, but it works.
