Consistent and convenient use of music in the hearing impaired has been demonstrated for both personal entertainment and therapeutic effects. The purpose of this review was to provide a brief introduction to physiological effects of music on relaxation, especially, among hearing aid wearers. This article also described how these characteristics could be realized with new acoustic parameters such as fractal tones. This principle could be integrated into the design of an effective digital signal processing scheme of the hearing aid so that music might be conveniently and discreetly used by hearing aid wearers. Therefore, potential hearing care professionals might gain new perspectives and opportunities of demonstrating relaxing nature of the fractal tone and its potential usefulness in aural rehabilitation and musical audiology.
KEY WORDS:Stress relaxation·Fractal tone·Mind440 hearing aid·Zen program·Music novelty.