Neuromodulation for the Treatment of Tinnitus

Abstract

Tinnitus is a perception of sounds in the absence of external noise. Tinnitus can affect an individual's life, prevent productive work or impair the quality of life. There are 2 types of tinnitus, objective and subjective, the latter being the most challenging of hearing disorders. Tinnitus has various forms and it can be difficult to relate a specific event with the appearance of tinnitus. Moreover, detection of tinnitus and evaluation of its severity is impossible. Therefore, treatment is usually based on the patient's own assessment. To date, various forms of treatment have been administered with minimal success. Many different treatments have been attempted and then discontinued. The treatment goal of eliminating symptoms for severe tinnitus is rarely achieved. However, some symptoms of tinnitus can often be reduced to improve the patient's quality of life allowing him or her to work despite residual effects of the disorder. In the present study we evaluated electrical stimulation, including transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of tinnitus.