Research Highlights Potential Treatment for Tinnitus
A recent article in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry described positive findings using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for patients with chronic tinnitus.
Sixteen patients participated in the randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind crossover study. Patients with co-morbid psychiatric disease were excluded from participation. Both depression and anxiety symptoms were monitored throughout.
Patients received 1Hz rTMS (120% motor threshold; 1200 stimuli over a five day period) delivered to the left tempoparietal region of the brain. A sham treatment was also delivered, placebo rTMS therapy.
Eight of the 14 patients responded to the treatment. Subjects who responded reported a transient improvement, approximately 35 percent, in reduction of basal subjective tinnitus assessment. This improvement was unrelated to changes attributed to mood and tinnitus laterality. Two of the participants did withdraw from the study secondary to worsening tinnitus.
Evaluation of the finding suggests that stimulation may activate the auditory cortex. Future evaluation of this therapeutic approach may include other delivery methods, such as epidural implants in the auditory cortex that deliver neuromodulation. The research team further cautions the preliminary nature of the findings and suggests that this approach may be a therapeutic option for select subsets of patients with tinnitus.
August 20, 2007 Related topics: New Technology & Innovation, Otolaryngology