I have had bilateral (both ears) tinnitus since my early twenties. I'm not far off my 68th birthday, so it's been a good long time. The audiologists & ENT specialists all seem to agree on two things: they have little knowledge of what sets it off & there is no permanent 'cure'. I wear a pair of hearing aids which, in addition to boosting a mild to moderate hearing loss, are supposed to provide tinnitus masking...I have found this feature ineffective. As many of you have said, you somehow have to find a way of living with it...dwelling on the fact that one has tinnitus is counter-productive. Quiet times...the minutes before falling asleep, are when it's at it's most intrusive.
       There does appear to be a link between an overdose of Aspirin & the onset of Tinnitus, although a daily intake of 75mg to reduce the risk of a Stroke apparently does not exacerbate existing Tinnitus.