Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for Tinnitus

Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Treatment in Patients With Chronic Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a phantom auditory perception of meaningless sound, meaning that there is registration of sound in the absence of an external or internal acoustic stimulus. It is a common problem (prevalence 7-19%) which may interfere with the ability to lead a normal life. Unfortunately, it is a very difficult symptom to treat because there are hardly any therapeutic options for the cause of tinnitus. Most therapies focus on alleviating the condition rather than treating the cause. Tinnitus is thought to be generated in the brain, as a result of functional reorganization of auditory neural pathways and tonotopic maps in the central auditory system, following damage to the peripheral auditory system. Repetitive Transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a therapy, based on this concept of reorganization in the auditory cortex. It uses a pulsed magnetic field to disrupt the neural circuit and to thereby (temporarily) excite or inhibit certain brain areas, leading to the suppression of tinnitus.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic, non fluctuating, tinnitus, demonstrated by means of the diagnostic Protocol Tinnitus UMCU, of at least two months duration.
• Age ≥18 years
• Dutch speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Treatable cause of the tinnitus
• Use of anticonvulsant medication or other psychotherapeutic drugs
• History of epilepsy or family members with epilepsy
• Presence of active migraine
• Presence of psychiatric, severe internal or heart diseases or other neurologic diseases besides epilepsy
• Metal objects in and around body that can not be removed
• Pregnancy (will be tested on the first day of rTMS using a urine pregnancy test)
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Prior treatment with TMS