Neuromodulation Techniques in the Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus With Hearing Loss

University of Brasilia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hearing Loss; Tinnitus

Treatments: Procedure: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Procedure: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01944501

CFSNCC2013 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 45 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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36 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients receiving real transcranial magnetic stimulation

Treatment:

Procedure: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Sham TMS

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Patients receiving sham transcranial magnetic stimulation

Treatment:

Procedure: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients receiving real transcranial direct current stimulation

Treatment:

Procedure: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Sham TDCS

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Patients receiving sham transcranial direct current stimulation

Treatment:

Procedure: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation