Birmingham Tinnitus Care and Auditory Therapies 

The Zen Program Can Help people with Tinnitus to;


* Reduce the negative impact tinnitus can have on their life

* Decrease the emotional disturbance caused by Tinnitus

* Decrease awareness of Tinnitus

* Decrease the amount of time spent thinking about Tinnitus

* Increase ability to relax

* Increase concentration

* Increase feelings of well being

 

** The effect of The Zen Program can be immediate for some people. For others a longer period of use may be necessary. It may take several months or up to one to two years for others to gain benefit.


**** THE GOAL IS TO ALTER THE NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL REACTION TO TINNITUS SO IT NO LONGER HAS AN EFFECT ON THE PERSON'S LIFE.

What is The Zen Program?

The Zen program is a revolutionary, harmonic sound program available in The Widex CLEAR and Mind range of Hearing instruments.

Zen has an in - built generator that plays random, non repeated and infinite tones.

There are no sudden changes in tonality or tempo with the Zen program.

"The Fractal Tones stimulate the parts of the brain that affect mood, as well as the area of the brain where tinnitus is perceived"


Studies have found that the greater the distress associated with Tinnitus  the greater the benefits were gained with use of The Zen Program

The Zen programs are selected and adjusted for tempo, pitch and volume to the user's preferences. The program can be used AT THE SAME TIME as using the instrument as a normal hearing aid. The Zen tones are set automatically according to hearing test results and should not interfere with speech understanding.

The wearer has control to select which Zen Tones programs sound most pleasing and can also adjust the volume.

Zen Tones can be listened to at a louder level when being used just for relaxation purposes (hearing aid microphone switched OFF) 


Listening Options


Hearing Aid alone - when hearing is critical

Hearing Aid + Zen Program -  for daily communication 

(set and forget)

Zen Program alone - For relaxation purposes when listening to speech is not required

Hearing Aid + Zen Program + Noise - (Noise option to be used when tinnitus is particularly distressing)

Tinnitus, Stress and Music

For a lot of people with tinnitus, an increase in stress levels results in an increase in tinnitus awareness and annoyance. Emotional upset feeds the awareness of tinnitus and an increase in tinnitus awareness can add to stress. A vicious cycle is set into motion.

Negative thoughts and fears about tinnitus affect the emotional part of the brain (the limbic system). This triggers the Autonomic Nervous System to release stress hormones. Also, the subconscious parts of the brain detect the tinnitus signal which can also trigger the release of stress hormones.

Music has the ability to affect the unconscious part of our system. It has the ability to affect,

- Heart rate

- Blood pressure

- Respiration rate

- Muscle tension

- Skin temperature

- Skin conductance

- Release hormones

'Major musical keys' - Stimulates the orbito frontal area of the brain and can make us feel happy.

'Minor musical keys' - Stimulates the amygdala area of the brain and can make us feel unsettled and sad.

There is a strong relationship between stress, relaxation and the ability to cope with tinnitus.

By using The Zen tones it may be possible to interrupt the constant release of stress hormones.

For maximum benefit the Zen Program should be fitted as part of a Tinnitus Management and support program.

The Tinnitus Management Program Includes;

History Taking / Tinnitus  Questionnaire

Fitting of Widex Mind Hearing Aids / Music Program Selection and Fine Tuning

Tinnitus causes / mechanisms explanation

a personally structured program including;

Relaxation

Sleep Management

Tinnitus Stress Management Coaching

CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

End of program - Tinnitus  Questionnaire

Follow up visits as required