Oh how i have thought about this. There's not a second in the day where i'm not reminded. Oh, and then, to enter a noisy room, or loud music - well that ear just wants to pump up the erratic, excrutiating noises to unbearable levels, doesn't it.
Ok, now that i got that out (i'm really quite a positive person - just need to let out some steam with the tinnitus every now and then) - What you have pondered is quite interesting. Perhaps tricking the brain into believing that it's actually receiving some real noise - there could be something in that.
Staying on the topic of tinnitus - does anyone get pulsatile tinnitus when they get really tired or go to bed - it's a sensation where your ear makes a high pitch noise, seemingly in tune with your pulse rate. It's really very disturbing. i have to wait it out before i lie down again to sleep. Anyone?