Tinnitus is "not a disease or an illness, it is a symptom generated within a person's own auditory pathways" (British Tinnitus Association). Tinnitus is the perception of noise in one ear, both ears or in the head. It is heard inside the body rather than outside; the person with tinnitus can hear the noise but other people cannot.
Tinnitus can be experienced in a different range of sounds. Most people say they hear a ringing sound but it can also be heard as a buzzing, humming, whistling or musical sound. Tinnitus is worse at quiet times like when you are trying to fall asleep. This is because there is less background noise to disguise the sound and it is more noticeable when you are tired. The severity of the noises heard can range from mild to severe.

Tinnitus is a common condition with 1 in 7 people in the UK claiming to have experienced it at some point in their lives. This is called temporary tinnitus and it occurs after having a cold, blow to the head, prolonged exposure to loud noise or after attending a night club or gig. About 1 in 100 have the rarer long term tinnitus.
Tinnitus is more common in older people but it can occur at any age. Due to the change in noise levels in society today (such as industry noise, nightclubs etc.,) it is becomming more common in young people.

Tinnitus can affect concentration, cause sleeping problems and even depression. There is no known cure for the condition, but symptoms can be controlled to minimise the impact they have on everyday life.

Hypnosis uses relaxation techniques to help combat possible stress responses to the condition. Stress is not a direct cause of the condition, but it can make the symptoms worse. Most people with tinnitus say that it is worse during times of stress.
Reframing and symptom manipulation techniques are also used to help change the sound to something that is easier to deal with.

As the causes of tinntus are extensive, a diagnosis is required from a GP before hypnotherapy can begin.