How long did it take you to get used to tinnitus?

[FeatherySquawkington]

Yes, me again..... After 6 weeks I think it's time to accept this is here to stay for the foreseeable. So, positive stories about cracking on and getting on with it? Because what else can you do!! (Still struggling....... )

In all honesty about 2 years. I've had it for 6 years now. I remember that feeling at the beginning, when you can't see yourself surviving with this noise, the utter hopelessness of it. I do feel for you.

I live a normal life now. T is still the same probably worse but it bothers me far less.

The main things that helped me are:

Distraction. Can't stress this enough. Keep as busy as possible.
White noise - I still have my white noise machine on all night, it helps so much.
Talking - you can actually call the tinnitus helpline and someone will talk to you and they're so kind.
And the biggest of all - white noise generators. I actually think these saved my life. They go in your ears like hearing aids and they were amazing for me. Get yourself referred to an audiologist, they can get them for you.

Good luck!! I promise there's light at the end of the tunnel

A year or so.

I love my white noise app.

Around a year to 18 months.

Do the white noise generators train your brain not to listen to the tinnitus?

I've had it for 18 or so years. It's got worse over time and most of the time I don't notice it, only when my ears are a bit blocked or it's gone extra loud. Funnily enough it's pretty bad now. I saw the ENT people originally and they couldn't have been more dismissive as I was aware then of the white noise devices and would have been interested in trying one.

I think they just mask the sound. The app I use has a variety of noises and I use the one closest in tone to my tinnitus. I play it out loud on my phone when I’m sleeping.

Oh dear. I have a long way to go then!

@FeatherySquawkington how are you doing now? Did it go away? X

3 months for me. I only hear it in silence now. At first it was like a car alarm and I couldn't sleep. I've found if I play radio or something with voices at a low level my brain focuses on that instead. I tried raindrops etc but it did nothing for me.