- Nov 2, 2025
- 0
- Tinnitus Since
- 03/2017
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Somatic and ISSNHL
I'm new here and just wanted to express my deepest sympathy for everyone suffering from tinnitus. Mine started nearly ten years ago for idiopathic reasons, as I don't have much measurable hearing loss. My ENT mentioned there could be hidden hearing loss that can't be picked up on routine tests, whatever that means. Unfortunately, I was never able to habituate to it, especially in quiet or low-noise environments. Mine is loud.
It's not just a faint buzz or ring. Many times, I can hear it even over masking sounds. I've tried sound therapy and all sorts of treatments. At my worst point, I contemplated death, but thankfully I was able to get help. I'm a 44-year-old man with kids, and I've found that this condition sometimes makes me short-tempered with my family because it truly drives me insane. The only time I don't notice it is when I'm outside and active.
When I'm at home and it's quiet, it's all I can think about, even after all these years. It never changes, never gets quieter, and never improves. I wake up every morning, and sometimes in the middle of the night, with that same nagging noise. A lot of people say they eventually get used to it, but I haven't been able to. Is it really possible to get used to it so much that you don't even notice it in quiet environments anymore? Habituation hasn't worked for me at all, and I wonder if anyone out there has learned to live a normal life again. I think I'm one of those people who just can't get it out of their head.
Recently, I've tried the Bose Night Time Earplugs that play river water sounds, which are very soothing. They seem to help with sleep, but I can't listen to river sounds all day long.
Anyway, I'm here to learn more and to hold onto hope that one day there will be a cure for this horrible, life-changing condition.
It's not just a faint buzz or ring. Many times, I can hear it even over masking sounds. I've tried sound therapy and all sorts of treatments. At my worst point, I contemplated death, but thankfully I was able to get help. I'm a 44-year-old man with kids, and I've found that this condition sometimes makes me short-tempered with my family because it truly drives me insane. The only time I don't notice it is when I'm outside and active.
When I'm at home and it's quiet, it's all I can think about, even after all these years. It never changes, never gets quieter, and never improves. I wake up every morning, and sometimes in the middle of the night, with that same nagging noise. A lot of people say they eventually get used to it, but I haven't been able to. Is it really possible to get used to it so much that you don't even notice it in quiet environments anymore? Habituation hasn't worked for me at all, and I wonder if anyone out there has learned to live a normal life again. I think I'm one of those people who just can't get it out of their head.
Recently, I've tried the Bose Night Time Earplugs that play river water sounds, which are very soothing. They seem to help with sleep, but I can't listen to river sounds all day long.
Anyway, I'm here to learn more and to hold onto hope that one day there will be a cure for this horrible, life-changing condition.
