A multicentre retrospective survey of 67 children, who had attended an audiology clinic complaining of tinnitus, was carried out by questionnaire and by the study of the children's medical notes. Forty-two patient questionnaires were returned. Age of onset of tinnitus varied between infancy and 16 years. Tinnitus was more problematic in the children reported here than in those in previous studies. There was a close relationship of tinnitus to other associated symptoms, family history, personal past history and hearing loss. At the time of the study, 17% of children reported that their tinnitus had resolved.