How Hypnosis Can Also Help with Hearing Problems
Hypnosis is just hocus-pocus! That’s what a lot of people probably think. We’ll explain what hypnosis really is, how it works, and who it’s suitable for.
Hypnosis is not a magic trick. On the contrary: Hypnosis is a legitimate form of therapy with proven effectiveness, which has now been documented in numerous studies. It is used successfully to treat a wide range of issues: from smoking cessation to depression, from arachnophobia to agoraphobia. It is also used to address hearing and hearing loss.
How does hypnosis work?
The term “hypnosis” comes from the ancient Greek word “hypnos,” which means “sleep.” Hypnosis actually has nothing to do with sleeping, but it can be compared to a sleep-like state. People often talk about what’s called a “trance”: a state in which you’re very calm and relaxed, yet mentally highly focused. It’s a state of deep, focused relaxation where you tune out everything around you and concentrate solely on a specific aspect.
This state can also be illustrated with a few simple examples from everyday life: You’re engrossed in a good book, an exciting movie, or a radio play and forget everything around you. Or you find yourself daydreaming for a few seconds, for example while driving. In fact, over 80% of our actions take place unconsciously. That’s why it’s not uncommon for us to miss an exit on the highway or fail to hear someone calling our name.
Hypnotherapy makes use of this state by having the hypnotist put the patient into a trance. During this process, the patient focuses on a specific aspect—namely, the one they want to work on together with the hypnotist. In this state, the hypnotherapist can now influence the subconscious and “plant” new, positive thoughts. The advantage: In a trance state, the patient focuses on their hearing and therefore absorbs the message particularly intensely.
The Hypnosis Process
A hypnosis session usually begins with the hypnotist asking the patient to relax, close their eyes, and focus entirely on their hearing—this typically takes place while sitting or lying down. Using a special speaking technique, the hypnotist also creates a calm and safe atmosphere in which the patient can completely let go.
Once the patient has reached a state of deep relaxation, the conscious mind recedes into the background and the subconscious comes into focus. The hypnotist then uses suggestions and visualizations to help restructure the patient’s thought patterns. This can help people confront their fears, overcome mental blocks, break free from habits, and gain inner strength.
Where is hypnosis used?
Hypnotherapy is often used to help stressed and exhausted patients relax. The therapy is designed to help them develop new perspectives, tap into their inner sources of strength, and build greater self-confidence.
But hypnosis goes much further, as it can support behavioral changes: For example, in the areas of diet and exercise, to combat food cravings and aid in weight loss. Or in overcoming a fear of dogs. Quitting smoking is also a common issue, as is nail-biting.
Hypnosis can also be used as a supportive tool in medical settings: Here, it addresses clinical issues such as pain, sleep disorders, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. Additionally, hypnosis plays a particularly important role in supporting medical procedures, where the goal is to reduce anxiety and build trust.
Hypnotherapy may only be performed by individuals with therapeutic licensure. This includes doctors, alternative practitioners, and psychotherapists. Even a single session can yield significant results. However, when dealing with deeply rooted issues, multiple sessions are often beneficial, during which the therapist and patient work closely together to build trust.
What does hypnosis have to do with hearing difficulties?
At this point, many people are surely wondering what hypnosis has to do with hearing and hearing loss.
Hearing loss can lead to sleep disturbances, dizziness, nervousness, irritability, and rapid exhaustion. But memory and concentration problems, forgetfulness, and depressive moods are also not uncommon. As described above, hypnosis can reduce stress and bring about behavioral changes that can alleviate the aforementioned problems associated with hearing loss.
Hypnosis can also be helpful in cases of sudden hearing loss, as rest and relaxation are important supportive measures in the recovery process. At the same time or somewhat later, the underlying emotional and psychosocial issues can also be addressed through hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy is also used in the treatment of tinnitus, as tinnitus is often a result of stress. It is debilitating, causes fatigue, leads to depression, and exerts psychological pressure. Here, too, hypnosis can help reduce stress and thus alleviate the tinnitus.
Although rare, it is still possible for hearing problems to be purely psychological in nature. In most cases, this involves hearing loss whose psychological cause is unknown to the person affected—such as unbearable stress that has been repressed. Hypnosis can be one possible way to address these underlying causes.
However, it must also be noted here that for people whose hearing loss has been attributed to causes other than psychological ones by an ENT specialist, hypnotherapy cannot, under any circumstances, address the underlying causes of this hearing loss. It may, however, help them better cope with the symptoms and related problems. So if you are considering therapy using hypnosis, be sure to discuss this with your doctor beforehand—and, if you have hearing loss, especially with your ENT specialist.
The Voice—An Essential Tool for Every Hypnotist
In addition to a relaxed atmosphere, the hypnotist’s voice plays a very important role, as it lends them presence and expressiveness while simultaneously enhancing their power of suggestion. It is often the result of intensive training; in order to instantly captivate their patients and thus hypnotize them, all professional hypnotists train their voices almost every day. Through this training, they learn to use their hypnotic voice more consciously and purposefully.
But what really defines a hypnotic voice? We’ve all experienced it: a voice captivates us from the very first moment. As soon as we hear it, we feel a sense of trust and rapport. The answer to the mystery: vocal technique, combined with emotion and personality. Hypnotists pay attention to their breathing, resonance, and articulation, and combine these elements with a compelling story to captivate their listeners. Thus, the question of whether an incorrect speaking style can prevent or hinder hypnosis can be answered with a clear “yes.”
How safe is hypnosis?
Many people feel uneasy at the thought of hypnosis. It’s an unfamiliar situation—so it’s only natural to have doubts. Typical questions that come to mind include: Will I lose control? Can the hypnotist do whatever they want with me? Might I never fully wake up again?
But we can reassure you: Hypnosis is based entirely on your own free will. This means you cannot be put into a hypnotic state against your will, nor can you internalize the hypnotist’s suggestions. Cooperation and consent are essential—otherwise, hypnosis simply won’t work. Furthermore, you can come out of the trance at any moment. So if you start to feel uncomfortable, just end the session.
Am I susceptible to hypnosis?
“Me and hypnosis? That’ll never work!” Another misconception we’d like to debunk here. Because, in principle, everyone is capable of being put into a hypnotic state. But here, too, the same rule applies: You have to really want it. If you resist it internally, you’ll hardly be able to enter a genuine trance.
If it doesn’t work right away on the first try, it’s not the end of the world. That’s actually quite normal, because hypnosis is a matter of practice—and, not least, of trust. If the chemistry between the hypnotist and the patient isn’t right, the desired effect can’t be achieved. However, anyone who is open-minded, trusts their hypnotist, and can let go will also be receptive to hypnosis.
Self-Hypnosis
It is actually possible to put yourself into a hypnotic state. You’ll likely just need a little time and patience if you want to reach a deep trance. You can take a course in self-hypnosis or seek guidance from an experienced hypnotist. Autogenic training is also a form of self-hypnosis and is particularly well-suited for beginners.
Qualified hypnosis can be helpful for many problems and life changes. There are also several applications related to hearing and hearing loss. So why not just give it a try? It’s up to you! Bring up the topic of hypnosis during your next doctor’s visit and discuss possible solutions for correcting or reducing hearing difficulties.
