Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for tinnitus: influence of loudness and frequency of tinnitus on tinnitus suppression

Abstract

Background and Aim: Tinnitus is a distressing symptom for which few treatments exist. Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the temporal cortex has been proposed as a treatment for chronic tinnitus. This study determined relationship between psychoacoustic parameters such as loudness and frequency of tinnitus and outcome with rTMS treatment. Methods: Twenty six patients (22 male, 4 female) with chronic tinnitus received low frequency (1 Hz) rTMS at intensity 110% motor thre­shold and 1200 stimuli on three subsequent days to the left auditory cortex. The treatment out­come was assessed with loudness balance test and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Results: There was a significant difference between loudness of tinnitus and THI scores before and after rTMS. There was no correlation between psychoacoustic parameters loudness and frequency of tinnitus and rTMS treatment outcome. Conclusion: Our data suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, regardless of loudness and frequency of tinnitus, can be used as a therapeutical tool for the treatment of tinnitus.

Keywords

• Transcranial magnetic stimulations
• repetitive
• tinnitus