Attempts to manage tinnitus, using hearing aids have been going on for decades. Some early strategies involved the generation of white noise alone, some simply used hearing aid circuits with high internal noise levels. Other strategies began to appear with the advent of digital circuits designed to attempt to identify the particular bandwidth of the individual tinnitus sufferer’s internally generated noise, and offer one at a similar frequency in attempt to cancel the internally generated one.
As a tinnitus sufferer myself, I have been interested, and have even tried some of this equipment as it has evolved. However, nothing I’ve tried to date, compares to the “Zen” system offered by Widex. The more I explore the features of my new “Clear 440s” the more impressed I am with the breadth and depth of the benefits that this company has packed into such tiny packages.
The Zen program on these instruments goes far beyond simple white, pink, or narrow band noise, into a realm that is very aptly described by their choice of a name, for their ability to overlay any ‘color’ and tempo of notes, chords, and sound patterns onto their amazing signal processing system.
The applications of this feature go far beyond tinnitus management, and allow for the application of a relaxing pattern of background sounds that can very easily be adjusted to any volume level, and overlain onto the amplified signal I need to keep in touch with the world around me.
Or, I can raise the volume and use the tones as a launching point for meditation, reflection, and relaxation amidst my at times, very hectic world. Oh, and when I’m in my ‘Zen’ program, my tinnitus is still there, but I’ve got to really listen for it. Which is what effective tinnitus management is all about anyway, giving our active attentions something to think about other than the noises going on all the time inside.
Widex’s ‘Zen’ program features take tinnitus management to a whole new level. One I can best describe, as somewhere between Wow and Ohmmm.
Well done Widex! ‘Zen’ puts you at the pinnacle in this class of products, and adds another layer of value to your Clear product line.