Tinnitus has been a part of my life for so long I can’t remember not having it. While it doesn’t seem to bother me the way it does others, it can be very annoying, especially when I’m in a very quiet environment, camping for instance. So it would be incredible if a breakthrough in tinnitus treatment were to come along.
Background. Perception of sound in the absence of an external auditory source is called tinnitus, which may negatively affect quality of life. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS of the left temporoparietal area LTA was explored for tinnitus relief. Objective. This pilot study examined tDCS dose current intensity and duration and response effects for tinnitus suppression. Methods. Twenty-five participants with chronic tinnitus and a mean age of 54 years took part. Anodal tDCS of LTA was carried out. Current intensity 1 mA and 2 mA and duration 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 20 minutes were varied and their impact on tinnitus measured. Results. tDCS was well tolerated. Fifty-six percent of participants 14 experienced transient suppression of tinnitus, and 44% of participants 11 experienced long-term improvement of symptoms overnight—less annoyance, more relaxed, and better sleep. There was an interaction between duration and intensity of the stimulus on the change in rated loudness of tinnitus, F2, 48 = 4.355, P = .018, and clinical global improvement score, F2, 48 = 3.193, P = .050, after stimulation. Conclusions. Current intensity of 2 mA for 20 minutes was the more effective stimulus parameter for anodal tDCS of LTA. tDCS can be a potential clinical tool for reduction of tinnitus, although longer term trials are needed.
Again, this study begs the question: If 2 mA was more effective than 1 mA, why not 3?
P.S. Thanks you know who you are!
via Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Intensity and Duration Effects on Tinnitus Suppression.
Hi!!
Where I can read this entire article? I’m working on tDCS treatments. Thank you!
The lower link will take you to the paper’s abstract. From there you have the option of purchasing the full paper. Try a search for the entire title of the paper, you might get lucky and find a link to a pdf. Especially as papers get older this seems to be the case.
Hi – is there a paper for this study?
Also have you given it a go – I would love to get rid of my tinnitus
But I also get a kind of visual tinnitus – I always see phosphenes. I’m sure both are a result of neuroplasticity. But it sucks I recall as a child lying in bed at night hearing pure silence & seeing pure blackness.
Now I lie in bed hearing a high pitched tone seeing technicolor clouds – when I really dont want to.
There was never pure silence in our house, but I know what you mean. I miss it most of all in nature when, as occasionally happens, the wind dies down and for a moment there’s nothing. P.S. Actually I sent something along to your Yahoo address when I got it. If you don’t see it, send me an email john[AT]diytdcs[Dot]com.