Anyone in here who got tinnitus or knows someone who got it and does ok with it? I got it for about 2 months and I'm really scared it will affect my programming career and ability to focus...

I've heard it's best to forget it. It doesn't matter if you don't remember it. Avoiding silence should help with that.

i got it from one of the 7 ear infections i had in 2017 and it fucking suuucks since I'm one of those people that really love the quiet :<

worse is i have it on my right ear and my right ear only

@inaba did it affect your work?

I have it mildly from drumming through my teens without ear protection. I rarely notice it, and when I do often it’s like paying attention to your breathing - you forget about it soon enough.

@Diactoros did you also have noise sensitivity in the beginning and did it get better or worse throughout the years?

I did and still do have some, and I’m not yet in my thirties unfortunately so I don’t know how it will change with time. I suspect like most things related to age the outcome will be slightly worse the longer you wait.

Ive had it since i can remember, its really fucking annoying at night (and tbh a bit scary) but i mostly forget about it while im awake.

While we are at it, listen to evilwave&antima-tinnitus, its a good track

Depends how much strong is it.

Two things very important. One you have to realize that tinnitus doesn't mean that something wrong is happening with your ears or with your brain. Just don't worry about it and try to accept it. Second a white noise helps to mask it. Apart from that there are some therapies that can silence it

White noise, music, pretend it's not there, hone into it in order to focus...

You get used to it, and honestly, unless you're having a particularly bad day, you can oftentimes forget it exists if it's not dead silent, which if you live in or near a city, it generally isn't.
Even on farms, concentrate on nature if the tinnitus bothers you too much...

I love using it to focus, and I hone into it to the point that when someone speaks to me, it's like listening to them through water, and I have to snap out of my focus.
It's also a great excuse to ignore your idiot boss... O.O

@thatguyatwork I have by now gotten used to it and I can't really hear it during the day, well only if I think about it.

@ everyone who commented Thank you for commenting. I have so many questions... Did your tone change a lot the first months? Do you also have other things like ear pain or hyperacusis? Did the sound lower or higher? When do you wear earplugs when your ears hurt from sound? I know I ask a lot but I want enough information. I assume I will have to get used to it. Currently it changes daily (mostly worse)

(1/2) @thatguyatwork

I've had it for more than 10 year now. I'm 26.

Mine has multiple frequencies which are more or less pronounced. Mostly the same, high pitched ones though. Lower frequencies are much worse, they drive me crazy.

During the day I can mostly forget about it, but it can be an issue at night. I have troubles falling asleep but I think that's not just due to the tinnitus.

I sometimes have hyperacusis, but rather rarely. I try to stay away from loud noise. I always wear earplugs in very loud environments (like when driving on the highway, using a drill or going to a concert or especially club), which is good for anyone, but necessary for me. I once forgot my earplugs at hone when going to a club and I went back home to fetch them (40 minutes one way). Last year I got custom made ones.

I cannot wear any headphones without sound or earplugs when it's too quiet. I will hear and remember it and thinking about it only makes it worse. Stress definitely makes it worse.

(2/2)

Avoid loud noise, but also avoid complete silence. White noise can overlay it and thus help you forget it. Forgetting it is important. Try to avoid stress. Get enough sleep.

There are some therapy options but none is really proven to work, thus my insurance won't pay for them. If I wanted to spend bags of money on treatment, I'd have more important issues that need fixing, but that's just my own story. You will probably have to learn to live with it.

oh and I can recommend the white noise app from tmsoft