This question raises a whole plethora of sub questions.
For example what do we mean by 'live with'? There are several answers.
If we mean 'is it bearable?' then there is no definitive answer because every individual is different.
Every individual has a different threshold of acceptance of a condition.
The condition itself is not a copper fastened concept.
It is variable.
Some people experience the 'ringing in the ears' type of tinnitus and others experience various sounds such as hissing noises, whistling noises, beating noises, drumming noises, thumping noises and even high pitched whining noises.
Every person's tolerance level varies.
One person may well be able to cope with the 'ring in ears' type noise while the same person may not be able to abide by the hissing, whistling or beating noises.
Similarly the person who can put up with the thumping or drumming noise may be driven to distraction by the 'ringing in the ears' type noise.
But their quality of life suffers and in some cases very seriously resulting in lack of sleep, lack of concentration and a feeling of overall malaise.
Some people cope by masking the noise in their heads.
Individuals have different coping mechanisms.
For example you might, while typing at your computer, listen to your favourite music.
If you try this masking strategy you could easily drown out the annoyance but of course it will recur again when you return to 'silent mode'.
It is possible to buy a masking device which looks like a hearing aid.
This device emits a soothing sound with a volume pitch a little higher than the 'ring in ears' type sound, for example.
The wearer of the device, like most people, automatically tends to ignore a variety of external sounds and so will after a few minutes ignore the masking sound coming from the device and will also ignore the tinnitus sound.
Other types of maskers used for tinnitus masking treatment are the bedside maskers.
Maskers are often used by patients when they go to sleep to make them sleep better.
Bedside maskers can make use of a radio that is tuned into an empty station and with a low volume.
However this approach is not necessarily a cure for the tinnitus.
It is only an attempt to obtain temporary relief.
In short, the answer to the first question is that a sufferer can't 'live' with tinnitus.
By this we mean their quality of life is totally diminished.
The only thing to do is to take action.