ear loss and tinnitus at 61

I have been fine until last week; although over the past year I noticed I have been turning up volume of TV and have been sensitive to some sounds which sound too loud. But I haven't had any problem, socially or professionally, hearing. Last week I started hearing a sound like 'air' in both ears....I would hear it occasionally at night over the past few months but now I hear it all the time. It still didn't seem to affect my hearing except the TV. However when the sound started, I went for a hearing test and couldn't believe I was on the scale of 55 which is right smack in the middle of normal and deaf. The doctor said I needed a hearing aid. Maybe it's psychological but since then it seems I have trouble hearing, words seem muffled. I'm getting scared; I'm not so keen on having a battery operated mechanism in my body. I am scheduled to repeat the test in the US in 2 weeks (I live outside the US), and get another opinion. In the meantinme I have read that gingko biloba and zinc among other things helps. I even went to acupuncture yesterday. The doctor here said he couldn't figure it out because I am healthy, but that it could be due to my hashimotos's thyroid that I have. I would like to explore alternative solutions first...does anyone know a good homeopath in the NY area that specializes in ear problems? Thank you! Tweet