Habituation is possible for most sufferers - Tinnitus UK

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Habituation is possible for most sufferers

_Barnabas profile image
8 Replies

Again in my experience it never goes away but you learn to forget that it is there and you no longer care that you have T. Occasionally however you get a spike and then need to take more time and effort to habituate once again. I guess everyone has a different experience as tinnitus is a symptom of a number of possible different causes. Personally I have perfect hearing for someone in their 40s and believe my tinnitus is a result of a lifetime of anxiety and high stress rather than hearing loss or exposure to loud sounds or ear infections. The T is in my head rather than in my ears. I guess the effectiveness of habituation is dependent on the cause of the T so some can habituate easily while for others it is difficult or even impossible. I have read in the research that 97% of T sufferers will habituate in at least 18 months to 3 years but with extra support and intervention this time scale can be greatly reduced. Above all I believe that for most people there is hope of improvement over time even though there is no cure. Some are blessed and the T disappears completely but I guess this boils down to the cause and is not the case in the majority of cases.

**I am not an expert I express an opinion based on my own experience which others might rightly disagree with.

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_Barnabas
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8 Replies
Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie

Barnabas, thank you for this! I totally agree with you. You have expressed this so well.

Jdaniel123 profile image
Jdaniel123

I think you are correct. I have had it for around 4 months. I am just now feeling like i am starting to habituate. Starting to get the feeling you mentioned, yea it's there, it's frustrating but I am going to live with it and I really don't care. Sounds crazy but I guess that's the way your body and your brain deals with it.

bantams profile image
bantams

Totally agree with your comments , nearly a year into my Tinnitus so hopefully may be able to habituate in the near future, fingers crossed!!!!

Halen12 profile image
Halen12

Have you found anything works to assist

_Barnabas profile image
_Barnabas in reply to Halen12

I try to keep busy and focused and also use relaxation techniques when I’m feeling stressed or anxious. When my tinnitus is very loud I try not to react emotionally and tell myself “it’s only tinnitus”. Some days can be hard but most days at the moment are good.

Highfield73 profile image
Highfield73

Thanks for this Barnabas. I’m going through a spike just now after many years of habituation. It’s frustrating since I thought I was back in control ! Some days my T is back it’s box, the next rampaging about again. I find the challenge is between staying busy and wearing myself out. Flip flopping a bit now …

_Barnabas profile image
_Barnabas in reply to Highfield73

I am just coming out of period where my T has spiked. I seem to habituate and then it’s as if I am back at square one. Relaxation techniques and keeping busy just about gets me through.

_Barnabas profile image
_Barnabas in reply to Highfield73

Hope you get back to where you once where very soon.

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