Tinnitus E-Programme
In addition to the Tinnitus E-Programme materials below, download the December 2009 Special Report:
IMPORTANT!
The following link is a new (19th June 2010) special report and concerns the future of the Tinnitus E-Programme as an on-line resource:
Materials
The materials used in the Tinnitus E-Programme are covered during a period of 6 weeks. Therefore, to give them a meaningful order here, they are made available in sections below. Here is an overview of the E-Programme
Please make sure you have completed the tinnitus measure BEFORE embarking on Week 1
WEEK 1
To complete the tinnitus measure please click here
In addition to being given the above information, patients are instructed in how to undertake the following breathing exercise. This exercise is recommended to be used at least 3 times every day from the beginning of Week 1 throughout the whole programme:
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WEEK 2
Stress in all its forms can contribute significantly to tinnitus distress. The diagram of the "stress curve" serves to show how increased levels of arousal only increases intended performance / activity to an optimum point, thereafter any increase in levels of arousal results in reduced performance / activity and can lead to negative and unwanted effects
IMPORTANT NOTE!
If there is a problem opening this link directly, right click on the link, and Save Link As or Save Target as, and download it to a file in your computer. This applies to all the links for the relaxation recordings on this page.
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WEEK 3
The materials for week 3 include:
- “The Three Levels of Hearing” that explains the perception of tinnitus in terms of the three levels of hearing i.e. first, second and third levels, and
- A summary of the original paper published by Jonathan Hazell in 1993 called The Significance of Sound
I have used both of these items in the third week of the programme. They are both self- explanatory, and have helped my patients to further understand the principles behind how it is attentional-focus and stress, discussed earlier during weeks one and two respectively, that relate so significantly to tinnitus distress
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WEEK 4
The materials for week 4 consist of one document plus a third 30 minute relaxation exercise, however, week 4 is crucial to taking understanding to the next step. It is immersed in Cognitive Behavioural method, and walks the patient through a process of identifying negative thoughts and then challenging those thoughts through looking at the evidence for and against them. Where clinicians have expertise in using CBT, it is recommended they supplement the E-Programme materials with their own which will enhance patients' use of challenging and re-evaluating their thoughts when this is required.
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WEEK 5
For several years now, I have used material for Week 5 that is based on a document called Taming Tinnitus that is available through the British Tinnitus Association on the following link: http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/index.php?q=node/63
There is a dowloadable pdf version at the bottom of the BTA web page. It is a superb piece of work authored by three eminent psychologists, and it gives direction concerning many "Do's" and "Don'ts" about managing tinnitus.
In addition, there is a highly effective "attentional-focus" exercise near the beginning of the document :"Take some time each day to practice switching your attention...."
In my experience, patients who have followed the E-Programme as described above through the preceeding 4 weeks, using the relaxation exercises as directed each day, have been in a good position to be able to undertake this "attentional-focus" exercise with some excellent results.
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WEEK 6
This final week of the programme is one of consolidation. As facilitator of the "live"clinic, I have used it is an opportunity for questions and clarification, as well as giving my patients the opportunity to complete a survey-type questionnaire commenting upon the programme contents and its delivery.
If any clinician would like a copy of the survey I use, I will happily forward them a copy on request.
At this time, all four of the 30 minute recorded relaxation exercises have been used. In the "live" clinic, I undertake a "live" relaxation exercise with my patients, however, an alternative to this would be to use one of the four recorded exercises chosen by a majority of the patients in any "live" group setting.
Patients are requested to continue using the breathing exercise - as they have done consistently throughout the previous weeks, and to continue having 30 minutes relaxation time each day for the next 4 weeks. This takes them up to week 10, when each patient returns for an individual review of their progress. At this review, the initial measures undertaken are repeated, and a comparison is made giving an Outcome reflecting change.
