I’ve had it for years, last visit I was told to have my ears cleaned. ?? As I type the steam pipe sound is still going strong. It varies, but most of the time I just have to ignore it the best I can. I don’t see it as a suicidal thing, its just a nuisance that I managed to have lived with for about 50 years.
FWIW, my GP said I had fluid in the ears caused by lots of air travel (she used to work for an airline). A couple of my colleagues at work, who also travel a great deal, report the same symptom.