“There is a lot of reassurance in knowing that other people genuinely understand what you are going through.” – Jack’s Story

Jack Bridge was only 20 when he got tinnitus. Now an advocate, entrepreneur and Tinnitus UK corporate member, Jack tells his story.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Jack Bridge and I’m the founder of Sonovo. I’m based in the UK and spend a lot of my time working in marketing and developing ideas that can make a genuine difference to people’s lives and businesses. Outside of work, I built Sonovo, a business rooted in the idea of turning difficult tinnitus experiences into something positive and helpful for others.

When did you first notice your tinnitus, and what was that experience like?

I first became aware of my tinnitus in January 2021 while I was lying in bed. At the time, I had COVID-19 and was struggling to sleep, so I put my earphones in and listened to music for around 30 minutes to help me drift off.

When I took my earphones out, I noticed a ringing sound. I had experienced that before, but it would usually disappear after around 20 seconds. This time, however, it stayed. At first, I was not too concerned because I assumed it would be gone by the morning. But when I woke up the next day, it was still there, and then it remained the day after that, and the day after that.

How did tinnitus affect your daily life in the early days?

In the early days, tinnitus had a huge impact on my daily life. I found it incredibly difficult to adapt, especially because the sounds were so inconsistent. It was not just one noise. At times it felt like I could hear multiple sounds at once, including a humming noise and another that sounded like a hissing gas leak. That unpredictability made it even harder to come to terms with. Fortunately enough they stayed the same after a few weeks (hopefully I’ve not jinxed this!)

What made it worse was the anxiety that came with it. I was only 20 years old, and I found myself thinking far ahead into the future, wondering what it would be like when I was 30, 40 or 50. That was a very difficult thing to process at such a young age.

It also forced some lifestyle changes. I have always loved listening to music, but ever since then I have been much more cautious about volume levels. One of the hardest things to accept was the loss of silence. I had always enjoyed lying in bed at night in complete silence, and the thought of never experiencing true silence again, or never feeling fully comfortable in a quiet room, was incredibly upsetting.

What were the biggest challenges you faced when you were first trying to understand or manage tinnitus?

One of the biggest challenges was the uncertainty. When tinnitus first starts, you want answers straight away, and it is very easy to become hyper-focused on every sound and every feeling. I often heard sounds from the TV and I would double check with my family members to make sure they could hear it too, as I was dreading it getting worse! I found myself trying to work out what was normal, what might help, and how I could stop it from dominating my attention. That mental side of it was one of the hardest things to deal with.

I also found it difficult coming to terms with the fact that there is no straightforward cure. The focus becomes habituation, which can feel disheartening at first because it means accepting that life may not be exactly the same as it was before. But over time, I began to understand that although tinnitus changes things, it does not have to take away your happiness, your freedom, or the parts of life you enjoy.

What helped you begin to cope or move forward?

What helped me begin to cope and move forward was a combination of support, perspective, and time. Having supportive friends and family around me made a huge difference, especially in the early stages when everything felt uncertain and overwhelming. Knowing that I was not alone, and that there were services, support networks, and people out there who genuinely understood tinnitus, helped me feel far less isolated.

Time was also a big part of it. Adjusting to tinnitus does not happen overnight. It takes time to process it, to accept it, and to gradually learn how to move forward without letting it control every part of your thinking.

Something else that helped me greatly was channeling those feelings into building something positive. Creating Sonovo gave me a sense of purpose and allowed me to turn a difficult personal experience into something that could hopefully help other people facing similar challenges.

What Tinnitus UK support services helped you?

Tinnitus UK’s information and educational resources were really valuable, particularly the content that helps people better understand what tinnitus is and how people can cope with it. Reading real stories and practical advice helped make the experience feel less isolating. There is a lot of reassurance in knowing that other people genuinely understand what you are going through.

I also took inspiration from the businesses and corporate members that Tinnitus UK works with. They inspired me to help the tinnitus community using my knowledge and resources in any way I can.

Did you find any support, advice, or strategies that made a real difference for you?

Yes, definitely. Sound enrichment made a real difference, especially in quieter environments where tinnitus can feel more noticeable. Just as importantly, honest advice and reassurance helped me stop viewing tinnitus as something that had to control every quiet moment. That combination of practical support and mindset change was really important.

It was also important that they clearly highlighted the difference between sound masking and sound enrichment. This was very insightful and aided me on my journey to tinnitus habituation.

Have you been able to return to any activities, hobbies, or parts of life that tinnitus once made difficult?

Yes, over time I have become much better at not letting tinnitus dominate my attention in the same way it once did. Quiet moments, sleep, and day-to-day focus all became more manageable as I understood it better and found strategies that worked for me. I think that sense of progress is really important for people to hear, because things can improve.

I hardly notice my tinnitus now unless it is brought up in conversation (which is a lot considering my line of work) or I notice it if I’ve been surrounded by a constant source of noise and then that noise is taken away.

You also created Sonovo – could you tell us a bit about it?

Sonovo is a UK brand focused on creating non-medical, sound-based products for people living with tinnitus. I started it because I understood how difficult tinnitus can be, especially in quiet moments such as at night, and I felt there was room for more accessible, thoughtful products that could support people in a practical way.

The goal has always been to create tools that feel easy to use, comforting, and realistic for everyday life. The overall goal is to aid the person’s tinnitus habituation journey whilst contributing to the wider tinnitus community at the same time.

What made you decide to join Tinnitus UK as a corporate member?

For me, joining Tinnitus UK as a corporate member felt like the right thing to do. Sonovo exists to support people affected by tinnitus, so it made complete sense to align with an organisation that is working every day to provide support, education, and advocacy in that space. I wanted Sonovo to be connected to something bigger than just selling products.

The aim for the partnership with Tinnitus UK is that the tinnitus support that Sonovo provides should not stop at the product level. We have much more to give and to contribute to the cause to ultimately one day, create a world without tinnitus.

What makes your Tinnitus UK corporate membership feel worth it?

It feels worth it because there is real meaning behind it. It gives Sonovo a stronger connection to the tinnitus community, it helps build trust, and it allows us to support an organisation that is doing genuinely important work. That sense of shared purpose matters a lot to me.

What would you say to someone who is considering joining Tinnitus UK as a corporate member?

I would say that if your business genuinely cares about supporting people with tinnitus, it is a very worthwhile step. It shows that you want to contribute to the wider community. For us, it has been a meaningful way to show commitment, build credibility, and support a cause that really matters.