Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2013 Jun;6(2):63-67.

Short Term Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients with Catastrophic Intractable Tinnitus: Preliminary Report

• Lee HY
• Yoo SD
• Ryu EW
• Byun JY
• Yeo SG
• Park MS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The short-term effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the patients with catastrophic and intractable tinnitus were investigated.
METHODS
Fifteen participants were recruited among patients with catastrophic intractable tinnitus to receive 1 Hz rTMS treatment. Tinnitus severity was assessed before rTMS and directly after sham or real rTMS using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analog scale (VAS).
RESULTS
There was no statistical difference in the THI score before and after sham stimulation. However, after 5 replications of real rTMS there was statistically significant reduction in THI score. Eight patients showed a decrease of more than 10 in THI score. Patients who showed a vast change in THI score after rTMS also showed a large decrease in their VAS score (r=0.879, P<0.001). Duration of tinnitus and change of THI score showed statistically significant moderate negative correlation (r=-0.637, P=0.011). But in case of VAS, there was no significant difference between VAS and duration of tinnitus.
CONCLUSION
Among total 15 patients with catastrophic intractable chronic tinnitus, eight patients showed some improvement in symptoms after 1 Hz rTMS. rTMS can be considered management modality for intractable tinnitus even with distress as severe as catastrophic stage.

Keyword

Tinnitus; Transcranial magnetic stimulation

MeSH Terms

Humans
Salicylamides
Tinnitus
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Salicylamides

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