Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Tinnitus
Low frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) of the temporal cortex has been proposed as a new treatment for patients with chronic tinnitus. However, functional abnormalities in tinnitus patients also involve brain structures used for attention and emotional processing, such as the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a new rTMS treatment strategy for tinnitus patients that consists of a combination of high-frequency prefrontal and low-frequency temporal rTMS. Directly after therapy there was an improvement in the Tinnitus Questionnaire score for both groups but no difference between groups. An evaluation after 3 months revealed a remarkable benefit from the use of combined prefrontal and temporal rTMS treatment. These results support recent data that suggest that auditory and non-auditory brain areas are involved in tinnitus pathophysiology.
Barry Keate
Book Mark it-> del.icio.us | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Facebook | Technorati | Google | StumbleUpon | Window Live | Tailrank | Furl | Netscape | Yahoo | BlinkList
Low frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) of the temporal cortex has been proposed as a new treatment for patients with chronic tinnitus. However, functional abnormalities in tinnitus patients also involve brain structures used for attention and emotional processing, such as the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a new rTMS treatment strategy for tinnitus patients that consists of a combination of high-frequency prefrontal and low-frequency temporal rTMS. Directly after therapy there was an improvement in the Tinnitus Questionnaire score for both groups but no difference between groups. An evaluation after 3 months revealed a remarkable benefit from the use of combined prefrontal and temporal rTMS treatment. These results support recent data that suggest that auditory and non-auditory brain areas are involved in tinnitus pathophysiology.
Barry Keate
Book Mark it-> del.icio.us | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Facebook | Technorati | Google | StumbleUpon | Window Live | Tailrank | Furl | Netscape | Yahoo | BlinkList
April 1st, 2008 at 8:38 am
I live in San Diego, CA. Is this treatment available in my part of the Country? How do I access this technology?
April 1st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Dear Darryl,
rTMS is an experimental procedure. It is only approved in the US for treatment of severe depression. It is not yet approved for tinnitus therapy. I have not found any rTMS clinics in San Diego, even for depression. You may want to search for rTMS clinical trials and see if you can join in one.
Barry Keate
April 29th, 2008 at 3:09 am
Dear Barry,
Do you know if this treatment is given at Froedert Medical in Milwaukee, WI? How do I find out about clinical trials? I am desperate, it keeps getting worse. I have been in contact with you before and appreciate your concern.
Ann Thome
April 29th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Anne – please read Barry’s comment above. You can also read an overview on the procedure here:
http://www.tinnitusformula.com/infocenter/articles/treatments/rtms.aspx
Brent Curtis – Editor