The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus.

An Overview Of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a debilitating condition that affects around 45 million people in America. It causes a person to experience a chronic buzzing sensation in the ear. Tinnitus can sometimes be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a circulatory problem or hearing loss. In many cases, the exact cause of tinnitus cannot be identified.

Anyone can develop tinnitus. However, there are some people who are at a greater risk for it than others. People who work around loud noises are more likely to develop this condition. Tinnitus is also common among veterans.

TMS Therapy For Tinnitus

Despite the fact that there is no cure for tinnitus, TMS therapy can give a person relief from this condition. TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It works by delivering magnetic pulses to the brain. The patient is awake during this treatment. Patients are also able to return to their normal activities after they finish TMS therapy for tinnitus.

The Food And Drug Administration first approved TMS therapy for the treatment of depression. It was recommended for tinnitus sufferers when health experts discovered that TMS therapy can affect the auditory circuits in the brain.

What The Research Says About TMS Therapy For Tinnitus

There have been clinical tests done to examine the effectiveness of TMS therapy. One of the studies involved 64 people who had suffered from tinnitus for at least one year. The study was led by Dr. Robert L. Fulmer at VA Portland Healthcare System. All of the subjects received TMS therapy for 10 days.

The results of the study showed that half of the subjects noticed a significant reduction in their symptoms. Additionally, many subjects were able to get relief from tinnitus for the first time in years. In fact, some of the subjects had suffered from tinnitus for over 20 years.

Dr. Fulmer stated that the results of the study are promising. He also stated that TMS therapy gives hope to the millions of men and women who have suffered from tinnitus for years. Dr. Fulmer is also hoping that a large clinical trial can be conducted on TMS therapy in the future.

Is TMS Therapy Safe?

TMS therapy is safe and well-tolerated by most patients. It is common to experience mild side effects during this treatment. Some of these side effects include headache, scalp itching and tingling in the facial muscles. These side effects will typically subside few minutes after the treatment.