I have had tinnitus non stop for around 50 years , I think I may have been lucky in that because it started at a low level and gradually increased to the fairly high level it is now, I can totally ignore it, I am only aware of it if I think about it, the only way it effects me is it adds to my poor hearing, Many years ago the NHS supplied me with what they called maskers , like tiny hearing aids that produced what was said to be a more pleasant tone, but I barely used them, I cannot see the point of producing one sound to blot out another, I think mine was caused by years of using electric drills, Kango hammers etc, in the days before ear defenders.