Can you ever get rid of tinnitus?

[Dreamingofnarrowboatlife]

I was told by the specialist who diagnosed me that you will always have tinnitus once it's there but why? What makes tinnitus something you can't eliminate completely? And why does no one really know the cause?

I have had it for years now and at times I don't notice it too much but recently it has been driving me slightly insane.

If you find the answer do tell me 🤣 I've had mine for years very used to it now. My 'silence' is tinnitus. It used to stress me a lot but I have adapted.

I heard something on the radio recently about a new treatment https://rnid.org.uk/2025/12/smartphone-sound-therapy-could-transform-tinnitus-treatment-for-millions/

I have had tinnitus type symptoms short term after an ear infection and it got better. DM definitely thought I was doomed to suffer forever, but perhaps that isn't really tinnitus?

Same.

I also have it. I read that lots of ladies develop it due to the estrogen drop of menopause.

Interesting!
I try and think of tinnitus as my built in white noise. Well I try not to think about it actually and most of the time I succeed.

There are things that make it temporarily worse - ear infection, clogged Eustachian tubes, starting anti depressants.

Yes, oestrogen helps with the nerves and auditory parts of the brain functioning correctly apparently. Hence why my bloody tinnitus seems to have appeared in my left ear since perimenopause started... thanks, hormones! 😳😑

I'm towards the end of perimenopause, it has definitely been worse in this stage of my life.

Mine turned on like a switch the day I got pregnant (know the date as had IVF) and it never went away. So annoying!

You can’t eliminate it because it doesn’t exist. It’s your brain hearing a noise that isn’t there. I’ve had tinnitus for years. Most of the time I don’t notice it but when it’s quiet it’s always there. I know it will never go away

I’ve had pulsatile tinnitus for three years. No idea of the cause. I can tell you my heart rate right now just by listening. MRI clear. Bloods fine. Whoosh whoosh whoosh 24/7.

Have had it for years too, arrived with menopause and never left, if you don’t adapt it could send you crazy as no cure currently but how wonderful life would be if a cure could be found

I got rid of mine by going on hrt. An unexpected positive consequence!

Helpwithdivorce,you are correct..I developed tinnitus with Covid September 2023.. Had audiology appointment and tests, then saw a consultant, repeat tests, and referral to local NHS audiology clinic. They were absolutely lovely, incredible health history taken. I was told by the audiologist that your brain goes through a sound library and picks out sounds. At one point I had 3 different noises,there's a permanent Steam pipe hiss. I now have hearing aids. My DD had it once following really bad sinusitis,3 months, then it went.youngest ds developed it, went to his GP immediately and had a steroid nasal spray which helped. Mine is apparently Eustachian tube and nerve damage. DH developed it before Christmas,it was early wax,had removal and it stopped.

Mine is pulsatile too, it's a weird feeling.

I would love to find an HRT which suits me but I have endometriosis and all the ones I have tried have caused me more pain which is annoying as I have a myriad of peri symptoms I want gone.

Mine has gone since I started wearing hearing aids. I went from having almost daily tinnitus to none at all.

That's interesting. I do need to go and get my hearing tested.

Ive got it, started during lockdown 😔. I was sent for hearing tests at the hospital and they ruled everything out, just told me it could be another part of my fibromyalgia 🤷🏼‍♀️. It bloody drives me up the wall and I can barely sleep for it, mine is like a tumble drier sound constant in both my ears. Wish it would bugger off 😕

It’s relentless, I have heard it for nearly 15 years now. I have to say it is worse when I’m anxious or stressed but it’s always there , if some one mentions it I then tune into it and if I’m distracted I don’t hear it . I just wish I could just hear silence, or just the rain or whatever but no it’s there.

I got it when I was 21 after the flu. I’m 51 now. I genuinely was suicidal at the start when I was told I was going to have it for life. It took me a long time to get used to it.

I only really notice it at night now or when I’m ill it’s heightened. I listen to white noise every night to drown it out. I’ve no idea what pure silence sounds like.

I recently worked with a friend who had tinnitus – I offered to see if I could help (on the basis that the worst thing that could happen is that nothing changed) and we got her tinnitus down from an average '5' to '0.5' – effectively gone – unless her Meniere's is flaring up.

How?!

I'm not sure why you'd think that the worst thing that could happen is that nothing changed. It could have got worse surely?

@Eyesopenwideawake I'd like to know how too