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Video

Tinnitus and Hyperacusis (TH)

LM320 - Healing From Home: Examination of MindfulTinnitusRelief.com Course During the 2020 COVID Pandemic

Friday, April 21, 2023
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Location: Rooms 602-604 ** 705 Pike
Earn 0.1 CEUs

    Lead Presenter(s)

  • Jennifer J. Gans, PsyD (she/her/hers)

    Clinical Psychologist
    MindfulTinnitusRelief.com
    San Francisco, California

    Disclosure(s): MindfulTinnitusRelief.com: Intellectual Property/Patents (Ongoing), Ownership Interest (Ongoing)

    PDF Handouts Slides

    • Contributor (Not Presenting)(s)

  • Corrie Holmes, AuD (she/her/hers)

    Clinical Associate Professor
    Idaho State University
    Idaho State University, Idaho

    Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
    Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

    • Contributor(s)

  • Jenn Holst, AuD (she/her/hers)

    Clinical Professor
    Idaho State University
    Pocatello, Idaho

    Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
    Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

Abstract:
This presentation will share a recent study assessing the effectiveness of an internet delivered Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction (i-MBTSR) program during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined data collected for an online i-MBTSR course using a retrospective design. The intervention included an 8-week self-paced i-MBTSR course, including didactic information about mindfulness and tinnitus, as well as meditation practices. Outcome measures included the Tinnitus-Functional-Index (TFI) and Perceived-Stress-Scale (PSS), which were measured at four time periods: pre-treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up.

The i-MBTSR course appears to be a viable and effective treatment modality. A shorter three-week course may be effective.

Summary:
Tinnitus, often a chronic condition, is experienced by 15% of the population. For those with severe, bothersome tinnitus, quality of life is reduced and the treatment options are limited. This presentation will describe recent research and an approach intended to decrease tinnitus related distress.

i-MBTSR is an 8-week training program with each lesson focusing on applying mindfulness to tinnitus and secondary symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulty. Participants complete a 2-hour lesson per week and 30-minutes of instructor led meditation practice daily. Instructional videos and audio recordings are accessed through the internet which guide the tinnitus instruction and formal meditations. Participants are instructed on key aspects of tinnitus (i.e., pathophysiology, attentional control, and stress response) and are encouraged to develop a mindful outlook on their life as a whole.

Recent research (Gans, et al, in press) suggests that the majority of individuals who completed the course experienced a treatment related change in tinnitus. Importantly, participants who completed the program also experienced an improved quality of life. This further supports that an i-MBTSR course may be a viable tinnitus treatment option especially for those who would not otherwise have access to in-person tinnitus treatment.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to identify the key components of internet delivered mindfulness-based approaches.
  • Participants will be able to identify the changes that occur in individuals who have taken an internet delivered I-MBTSR Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction Course (MindfulTinnitusRelief.com).
  • Participants will be able to identify differences between online and in-person presentation of a Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction Course.