Short-Term Effect of Single Session Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Chronic Unilateral Tinnitus

Kang, Ho Min; Park, Moon Suh; Lee, Ho Yun; Lee, Sun Kyu; Byun, Jae Yong; Yeo, Seung Geun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is generally performed over the course of several weeks, as its theoretical and experimental validity has been identified in repetitive procedures. If short term application of rTMS is proven to be significantly effective, more effective treatment of tinnitus can be expected. This study was conducted to measure the effect of one session of sham rTMS & one real trial of rTMS in chronic unilateral tinnitus patients.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
rTMS stimulation of 1 Hz and 100% magnitude was given 1200 times per day to 33 patients with chronic unilateral tinnitus on their left side, between T3 and C3/T5, following the convention of the 10-20 International EEG system. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores were measured four times-immediately before rTMS, immediately after sham rTMS, immediately after real rTMS and two weeks after real rTMS.
RESULTS
VAS and THI scores were found to show a tendency of declining. Immediately after real rTMS application, a significant decrease in VAS and THI scores was observed compared to those measured immediately before rTMS (p<0.05). The longer the duration was, the smaller the changes in THI and VAS scores were after a single session of rTMS treatment, a finding that is statistically significant (p<0.05). No significant changes in THI and VAS scores (p>0.05) attributable to the direction of tinnitus were observed.
CONCLUSION
A single session rTMS is thought to be a possible adjunctive treatment for tem-porary relief of tinnitus.