Tinnitus maskers look like hearing aids and produce sounds that “mask,” or cover up, the tinnitus. The masking sound acts as a distracter and is usually more tolerable than the tinnitus.
The characteristics of the tinnitus (pitch, loudness, location, etc.) that you describe for the audiologist determine what kind of masking noise might bring relief. If you have a hearing loss as well as tinnitus, the masker and the hearing aid may operate together as one instrument.
Like all other treatments for tinnitus, maskers are useful for some, but not all people. As with a hearing aid, a careful evaluation by an audiologist will help decide whether a tinnitus masker will help you.