To wonder if I still have tinnitus?

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I developed tinnitus in my very late teens. I took me about 18 months to come to terms with it.

I'm now early 40s, and I just don't know anymore if I have it. I hear a hissing when I lie in bed at night or if I'm in a very quiet room (as I think my tinnitus sounded when I knew for sure that I had it). But since I feel like I no longer remember what silence "sounds" like, I've started to wonder if this is actually what everyone hears and maybe I no longer have tinnitus?

Does that make sense? Basically, because I no longer know what 'normal' should be, because I can't conceive of what would be in the place of the hissing, I don't know whether I have anything 'abnormal'.

bump

I understand what you mean, but I think it's the wrong question to be asking. Your only experience is from inside your own head and if it's no longer bothering you, it is "your silence" whether it's different to other people's version or not.

Apparently we all hear some sort of noise and tune it out. From within our own body, our house etc. This is why those truly noise absorbing chambers are discomforting and people can only stand them for a short while. So "your silence" is your brain ignoring ongoing sounds, just like everyone else's is. You might be successfully ignoring/tuning out more, but I would argue the distinction is moot. You could argue that if you can hear some sort of noise then you still have tinnitus but if it's no longer annoying, what difference does it make?

Hi, I've had tinnitus for about a year - had it a few years before when suffering from extreme stress, but it seemed to go away when I felt better. When it first came back I was climbing the walls, but after a few months I've got used to it. So I'd think for the length of time you've had it the same will have happened & as you say you can't remember what it was like before.
I can remember what it was like to hear nothing....whereas now there is definitely a hissing. I'm mainly able to zone out from it now - something I thought I'd never be able to do - sounds like you managed to do that some time ago. 😀

thanks both.

@Nel1234 just out of curiosity how old are you? And how do you think you managed to get used to it? My husband's tinnitus has just started and I'm trying to help him by reassuring him that he will get used to it. But it's been so long since I've had to do the same that I've almost forgotten how I did it! I do remember at some points feeling near-suicidal though, at the outset. I certainly derived comfort from the thought that maybe I could have my ears surgically removed. I now realise that even if this was a realistic option, it probably wouldn't help the tinnitus!

I've had tinnitus since I was 21. 50 now.

It get worse sometimes, like when I have a cold and it's got much worse since menopause kicked in.

I find it's worse in one ear than another so it changes depending on which side I'm sleeping on.

Mine is a very high pitched sound. It's annoying and I've never wondered if it's normal!

Hi again, I'm 52 & I wonder if mine is menopause related. This time last year I was having a hellish time with symptoms & felt quite down & wasn't sleeping - then I became very aware of the tinnitus. Went to doc incase it was ear infection or build up of wax but nothing obvious, still waiting on a date for referral to ENT, but not holding out much hope.
In terms of getting used to it...when all the advice was saying mask the sound with white noise I decided the opposite worked best for me....I made myself have periods of silence & still do that now. Before the hissing & ringing scared me - but now I'm not frightened of it. It's sometimes bloody annoying & I wish I didn't have it but accepting it made a huge difference. Also a fellow sufferer reassured me that I would get used to it in time & she was right. I've also been taking magnesium glycinate tablets & I think they help a bit too x

Mine is also a high pitched noise. I seem to have learned to ignore it. I do have to fall to sleep listening to something though, so my brain focuses on that sound rather than the one in my ears, otherwise I do notice it and it seems really loud!! I'm 42. I'm not exactly sure when it started but I've had covid twice and apparently it's a long term symptom 🤷