Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

Yes, but in the end its all down to subjectivity. Faint, mild, high, severe, catastrophic. It doesn't necessarily tell that much. For instance, my t could be way louder than yours, but maybe I only notice it a few hours a day? It depends on so many factors...

There's a range, but most mild tinnitus would not be heard 24/7. I had mild tinnitus for many years, and I would not hear it over the sounds of many environments, usually only when it's quiet like when in bed. But as years passed, it became noticeable more often at other times, even over fans and white noise machines, when it was still quite mild compared to how it is now.

I would say mild tinnitus is where you only hear it in a quiet room with no sound on

This is all down to subjectivity @RunningMan .To me, mild t could also be heard 24/7 - on a normal day. But for some it might not be bothersome (any longer). They've habituated. Classifying subjective t is close to impossible, in reality.

@RunningMan Man, I wouldn't mind that kind of T! My T has always been heard 24/7 and not masked by anything. That's how it started so I don't know any different.

@MindOverMatter I did ask this question in another group and a lady did say she heard hers 24/7 but considered it mild. So maybe it is all in personal opinion. My T cannot be masked and I was always confused by white noise. I'm like it just makes it louder and fans make it louder! What do you mean it masks it?! Lol That must be nice.

@Mo8409 How about in the shower or running/splashing water? Do you hear it over that? I wouldn't call that mild if you hear it over that. White noise and fans don't do anything for my tinnitus, good or bad. The katydids and crickets outside in the evening aren't fully masking, either, but it helps if there's enough of them.

I'd say yes, but to hear it, I would have to stop what I was doing and listen for it.

@Mo8409 Some people have reactive tinnitus, where the T gets louder/changes presentation with sound/certain sounds. Steady broadband noise tends to cause this type of T to react, & that's why some people can hear their T over these types of sounds (e.g., shower, white noise generator) even though it may not be particularly loud in general.

Those with non-reactive T will be able to mask their T more easily, assuming it is not very loud.

That's my take on it at least!

My definitions:
Mild - heard only in silence
Moderate - heard in quiet settings
Severe - heard outside and every day situations
Catastrophic - heard over anything and everything