Researchers at the Veterans Affairs Portland Medical Centre and Oregon Health & Science University found that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) significantly improved tinnitus symptoms for more than half of study participants.
"For some study participants, this was the first time in years that they experienced any relief in symptoms," said Robert L Folmer, research investigator with the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research at the VA Portland Health Care System.
People with tinnitus hear a persistent sound - that can range from ringing or buzzing to a hissing or white noise hum - when there is no external sound source. The distraction can impair people's ability to sleep or concentrate and is sometimes disabling.
Currently, there are no proven treatments available. So, patients with the condition often develop coping strategies to manage their reaction to tinnitus.
To conduct this research, Folmer and colleagues, used a TMS system that generates a cone-shaped magnetic field that penetrates the scalp and skull to interact with brain tissue. The higher the stimulation intensity, the deeper the magnetic field can penetrate and affect neural activity.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has approved transcranial magnetic stimulation only for treatment of depression.
