Neuromodulation Techniques in the Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus With Hearing Loss

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aimed at trying transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation as potential treatments to decrease tinnitus in patients with significant hearing loss.

Detailed Description
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Tinnitus is a very common condition and affects approximately 15% of the population, disrupting sleep, emotional balance and social life of the patients. Acoustic deprivation causes hearing loss and is responsible for a cascade of processes that result in the reorganization of the cortex through a synchronization of neuronal activity related to a cortical re-mapping. Consistent with the hypothesis that tinnitus is caused by abnormal activation of the auditory cortex, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can temporarily reduce cortical hyperactivity through direct neuromodulation of the temporal cortex. Furthermore, studies have shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can also suppress tinnitus. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of rTMS and TDCS in the treatment of patients with chronic tinnitus and auditory loss. Methods: We performed an analytical experimental double-blind study using rTMS and tDCS in patients with chronic tinnitus and hearing loss.

Official Title
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Neuromodulation Techniques in the Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus With Hearing Loss

Conditions
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Tinnitus, Hearing Loss

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
* Procedure: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: chronic tinnitus hearing loss Exclusion Criteria: neurological diseases use of drugs affecting the central nervous system evidence of dementia clinical diagnosis of depression

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 45 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation<br>Patients receiving real transcranial magnetic stimulation | Procedure: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation<br>* TMS over the left temporoparietal cortex<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Sham TMS<br>Patients receiving sham transcranial magnetic stimulation | Procedure: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation<br>* TMS over the left temporoparietal cortex<br>|
| Active Comparator: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation<br>Patients receiving real transcranial direct current stimulation | Procedure: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation<br>* TDCS over the left temporoparietal cortex<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Sham TDCS<br>Patients receiving sham transcranial direct current stimulation | Procedure: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation<br>* TDCS over the left temporoparietal cortex<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores |  | THI was measured before intervention (baseline) and after 5 daily sessions (day 5) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Visual Analog Scale scores |  | Visual analog scale of tinnitus was recorded at baseline and after daily 5 TMS or TDCS sessions ( day 5) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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tinnitus, hearing loss, Transcranial magnetic stimulation, Transcranial direct current stimulation