Tinnitus is the perception of sound (like ringing, buzzing, or hissing) without an external source. It affects 10–15% of the adult population, and for many,it becomes a chronic and life-disrupting condition. Causes can include hearing loss, noise exposure, stress, or unknown origins, but the sensation is often linked to abnormal activity in the auditory cortex of the brain.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive, painless treatment that uses magnetic pulses to modulate brain activity. It is widely recognized for treating depression, but in recent years, it's also been shown to reduce symptoms of tinnitus by targeting the hyperactive areas of the auditory cortex.
Research shows that people with tinnitus often have overactive neurons in the part of the brain responsible for processing sound. rTMS delivers low-frequency magnetic pulses (usually 1 Hz) to these regions, helping reduce this hyperactivity and thereby relieving tinnitus symptoms.
Long-Term Benefits
A clinical study from the University of Regensburg followed 14 patients with chronic tinnitus. After just 5 sessions of targeted low-frequency rTMS:
• 11 out of 14 patients showed significant reduction in tinnitus severity.
• Improvements remained evident even 6 months later.
• The treatment was well-tolerated with no serious side effects.
Strong Evidence from Meta-Analysis
A 2015 meta-analysis reviewing 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concluded:
• rTMS leads to clinically meaningful improvements in tinnitus severity (based on THI and TQ scores).
• The therapeutic effect often lasts beyond the treatment period, up to 6 months.
• The odds of successful treatment were 15 times higher with rTMS compared to sham treatments.
Who Can Benefit from rTMS for Tinnitus?
You might be a good candidate if you:
• Have had chronic, non-pulsatile tinnitus for more than 6 months.
• Have tried other therapies without lasting results.
• Do not have metal implants or a pacemaker (due to magnetic stimulation).
• Are not currently on antiepileptic drugs or experiencing severe neurological illness.