to think you can live a happy life with tinnitus

I’ve had mine a long time now- the result of standing too close to too loud speakers for too long too many times! But honestly I barely notice it.

Sometimes it will suddenly pipe up much louder than usual. To get it under control I visualise a round volume knob like you get on a stereo, and I imagine turning the volume down. Sometimes I will actually hold my hand out as if I’m physically turning it down myself. Works every time!

I've had tinnitus for years, varying between ringing and a panning hiss sound. Its a minor annoyance at worst. I've got so used to not listening that I have to focus on it, except for when it changes. The hiss sound only lasts for a few seconds then the ringing comes back then it fades out again.

I am generally good at fading sounds out and don't get annoyed by noises or whatever. I'm also pretty laid back about shit I can't do anything about.

I feel sorry for the people that get really bugged by it

Dh has tinnitus and he says he barely notices anymore. He has had it for a long time now, like decades. He is pretty much deaf in one ear from having the measles as a kid and wears hearing aids.

I only noticed tinnitus at night so I listen to short stories and that has helped a lot. I saw a YouTube video saying tinnitus isn't in your ears, it's your brain making stuff up. Distracting your brain with other sounds can be helpful. I haven't noticed tinnitus for ages now.

I don't know what it is like living with ETD and fluid in the ears. Is it bilateral, and are sounds amplified and distorted? What tips has your ENT given you?

I do know that I can ignore my tinnitus until it is accompanied by sudden hearing loss, a recurrent problem for me. What helps is knowing that there is nothing sinister causing it, and then working on distracting myself with activities I enjoy and which require concentration. An absorbing book, cooking, playing an instrument. Of course, exercise helps as well. Then I can return to study or quiet time much more settled, regardless of the tinnitus.

My dad chewed gum, my ENT recommended hearing aids...

I’ve had tinnitus for nearly 30 years, and yes, I learned to block it out.

Mine started when I got an ear infection and it got slightly better but then I ended up with glue ear which made it worse. Got grommets put in when I was early 20s which helped as any kind of ear congestion makes my tinnitus play up. Then diagnosed with TMJ and a jaw out of alignment and following dental treatment it improved, but it’s still there. Had the test for a tumour in ear too (don’t recall what it’s called).

I mention all the above in case it helps someone explore why they may have tinnitus if there is no other obvious cause (GP’s don’t seem to know much).

Try white noise in the background, and I found at bedtime when it’s quiet you may notice it more. Mine used to seem very noisy then but I learned a deep breathing technique (breath slowly and deeply down to your stomach if you can) and for me, I can actually hear the noise level start to drop considerably. Tinnitus can worsen with stress so it’s worth trying as the louder it gets the more you can panic. Go easy on caffeine and tonic water (the latter contains quinine which is said to be not good for tinnitus), and be very protective of your ears with loud noise. I avoid attending music concerts etc and if I do go then I take ear plugs but don’t jam them all the way in - just enough to take the edge off the loudness.

There is tinnitus charities who can offer more info.

I notice mine only when I think about it or someone talks about it. The way I explain it ti myself is - Hearing is a collaboration between ears and brain, so if you dismiss tinnitus from your mind, the brain will learn that this isn’t a noise you need to know about, and will stop presenting it for your attention.

It’s worse when I’m not using hearing aids. Is that a self-diagnosed “no hearing loss” or have you had your hearing tested? It’s hard to recognise loss of high frequencies as you still hear mid to low frequencies perfectly. The most you notice is some people not speaking clearly.

My partner has permanent tinnitus due to an assault. I think they just have got used to it over the last 10 years or so. I think they have times where it annoys them but a lot of the time it’s now just background

I've learned to mostly block mine out, but it took a few years to get to this point. It's there all the time but I only really notice it if it's really quiet, have ringing in the other ear or I pay attention to it.