Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus with Theta Burst Stimulation

In a randomized, sham-controlled study, bilateral burst stimulation to either temporoparietal cortex or secondary auditory areas was safe but did not reduce tinnitus perception.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an investigational therapy for chronic tinnitus. These authors performed a randomized, sham-controlled trial of continuous theta burst TMS (TBS) for chronic tinnitus. They randomized 48 patients to real TBS over either bilateral temporoparietal cortex, real TBS over bilateral secondary auditory areas, or sham stimulation over bilateral mastoids. Participants received a total of 2400 pulses (alternating 600 pulses on each side, for 4 trains), every weekday for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was subjective scoring on the 84-point tinnitus questionnaire (TQ) at 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes were TQ score at 2 weeks and overall impression of change in tinnitus 10 minutes after each session and 12 weeks aft…

Reviewing Author

Yoon-Hee Cha, MD