@85dB T
I cannot speak about tinnitus treatment that happens in other countries as I have no experience. In the UK tinnitus patients are normally referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment and management. Some (not all) of these therapist were either born with tinnitus or acquired it at some time in their life. They will have a better understanding of tinnitus than any medical doctor or ENT physician. Doctors are not tinnitus specialists or experts in the condition they are physicians. They diagnose underlying medical problems within the auditory system or elsewhere in the body that is causing the tinnitus. If anything is found, they will usually try to treat it medically or surgically.
Therefore, someone that has noise induced tinnitus, which isn't caused by an underlying medical problem, should be seen by a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus. I agree with what you say, doctor may well think people suffering with tinnitus maybe pansies after reading my post because they know nothing about tinnitus because most have never experienced it. It is for this reason so many tinnitus patience complain that their family GP or ENT doctor doesn't have any understanding of what they are going through. I hasten to aid not all doctors think this way, some a very helpful and understanding.
So, in summing up: Someone that is having difficulty coping with tinnitus needs to see someone that specialises in treatment for the condition and who understand it. My Hearing Therapist who I saw for 2 years for TRT with counselling and wearing white noise generators, was excellent, the reason being she was born with it.
Michael