Tinnitus Activities THERAPY Session 4 Concentration

Session Plan Factors affecting concentration How tinnitus affects concentration Strategies to improve concentration Activities for home Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Factors affecting concentration Key Concepts Concentration is important. Necessary to complete many tasks Inability to concentrate results in frustration and stress Good concentration will enable you to remember more So let’s talk about what affects your concentration. Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Factors affecting concentration Noise Distractions Lighting Temperature Environment Hunger Tiredness Health Status Physical State Anxiety Fear Boredom Emotional State Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Factors affecting concentration Noise Distractions Lighting Temperature Environment Hunger Tiredness Health Status Physical State Anxiety Fear Boredom Emotional State Which factors interfere with YOUR concentration? How about you? Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Tinnitus and concentration Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Do any of these sound familiar? I perform best when I focus on one thing at a time. I can multi-task, but I’m less efficient. When I focus attention on my tinnitus, it’s harder to concentrate on other things. Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Simple vs. Complex Tasks You may notice the effects of your tinnitus on concentration more when engaged in simple vs. complex tasks. Why? Simple tasks may not be stimulating enough – tinnitus fills in the gaps Complex tasks are more demanding – so tinnitus is less noticeable. Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Strategies to improve concentration Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Strategies to Consider Eliminate distractions Adjust work habits Stay focused Consider task difficulty Decrease prominence of tinnitus Take control of your attention Key Concepts We’re going to briefly touch on six strategies for concentration. Ask: Which of these looks most interesting to you? Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

1. Eliminate distractions Choose a comfortable environment Eliminate unwanted noise Avoid hunger and tiredness Set aside time for worrying and daydreaming Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

2. Adjust work habits Work in shorter time spans Set a realistic pace Take breaks as needed Reward yourself for completing tasks Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

3. Stay focused Actively participate Take notes Ask questions Repeat information Organize important points Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

4. Consider task difficulty Attempt to focus on a task for brief periods Don’t restrict yourself to simple tasks Try more challenging tasks Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

5. Decrease prominence of tinnitus Utilize background sounds to mask tinnitus Add pleasant sounds like music Key Concepts Remember what we've talk about… Background sound Fan, humidifier Ambient noise machines Pleasant sounds CD player Radio Have you noticed how background sounds impact your concentration? Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

6. Take control of your attention Practice switching attention from one stimulus to another (i.e. object, sensation, though, activity) to another at will Practice refocusing your attention from your tinnitus to another stimuli, external or internal Key Concepts During our session on behavior and attention we touched on these ideas. The focus of our attention is largely under voluntary control You can learn to control the focus of your attention under various conditions By bringing the focus of attention under control, tinnitus-related distress will be reduced at times Let’s try it! Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Let’s Practice Visual attention switching: Focus on a nearby object Study that object Switch your attention to an object in the distance Switch back and forth between the two several time Notice: you can choose which item(s) you pay attention to while ignoring other things around you Key Concepts Near object may be: pencil, book, artifact they are wearing or in the room Distance object may be: out the window, down the hall, etc. As you practice together, make note of what works well and where adjustments can be made to maximize the strategy Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Let’s Practice Auditory attention switching: Listen for a prominent sound around you Now listen to a different sound in the room Continue to try and focus on certain sounds while ignoring others Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Let’s Practice Sound and tinnitus exercises: Pay attention to a sound in the room Now switch your attention to listening to your tinnitus Switch back to listening to the sound in the room and ignore your tinnitus Practice paying attention to the other sounds while ignoring your tinnitus Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Let’s Practice Sound and reading exercise: Read with a noise or music in the background Focus on your reading Now focus on the noise or the music Switch your focus back to your reading Continue to switch back and forth Practice so you are able to pay attention to your reading while ignoring the noise or music Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL Activities for home Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Your Turn! Keep track of which strategies you use and how they help you concentrate: Utilize the 6 key strategies we talked about today Experiment with background sound to make tinnitus less prominent Practice our 4 attention control exercises Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

Thank you for attending! Questions? Thank you for attending! Jane Doe Hearing Center. Chicago, IL

Jane Doe Hearing Center 555 Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 01010 (555) 123-4567 jane@janedoehearingcenter.com Monday-Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Contact Us Jane Doe Hearing Center. Chicago, IL