Which tinnitus patients benefit from transcranial magnetic stimulation?
OBJECTIVE
Chronic tinnitus is associated with hyperactivity of the central auditory system. Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the temporal cortex has been proposed as a treatment for chronic tinnitus. This study determined the factors that predict a beneficial outcome with rTMS treatment.


METHODS
Forty-five patients with chronic tinnitus underwent 10 sessions of low-frequency rTMS to their left auditory cortex. The treatment outcome was assessed with a tinnitus questionnaire. Therapeutic success was related to the patients' clinical characteristics.


RESULTS
A significant reduction in tinnitus complaints occurred after rTMS. In the questionnaire, 40% of the patients improved by five points or more. Treatment responders were characterized by shorter duration of tinnitus complaints and no hearing impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
Tinnitus-related neuroplastic changes might be less pronounced in patients with normal hearing and a short history of complaints. This could explain why those patients benefitted more from rTMS treatment.
Kleinjung
Tobias
T
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Regensburg, Germany. tobias.kleinjung@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Steffens
Thomas
T
Sand
Philipp
P
Murthum
Tobias
T
Hajak
Goeran
G
Strutz
Juergen
J
Langguth
Berthold
B
Eichhammer
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome