To all people you have suffered from Tinnitus for many years.

[Alex03111978]

Hi all, does necessarily T (or the its perception, I haven't already understood the difference ) increase after 15,20 years or more or it can improve?

[Ruud1boy]

I've had T for 10yrs+, but only at a level that's caused any problems for the last year or so. So in my case, it actually got significantly worse over time.

People talk about habituation and this can apparently take a number of different forms - habituation of reaction is where you're still hearing the noise but it doesn't upset or distress you as much as it did previously. The holy grail beyond that is habituation of perception, where your brain has learned how to disregard the signals, so you don't hear the noise anymore. Neither state is fixed and I imagine it would be all too easy to slip backwards.

In answer to your question then, yes it can get better but it can also get worse.

[Angela-H]

Hi Alex, I agree with Ruud's post. I have accepted that my hearing mechanism is damaged (general anaesthetic 2+ years ago) and so tinnitus will always be there. Initially it was very loud and the feeling/pain in my head spread down to my legs the most horrendous physical pain I have ever suffered in my head. With medication and the help of NHS audiologist it began to subside after 6 months. I usually wake up with it, put in my hearing aid and, usually, it is very quiet for most of the day, provided I take care by avoiding loud noise and keeping my ears warm in cold weather. I suppose that my T has become a background noise that is like the fridge in my kitchen - it's there but I don't hear it.

Of course I was so grateful to have found this forum and the BTA to know that I wasn't alone in my struggle. Best wishes and love, Angela xx