Efficacy of Neuronavigated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Tinnitus Relief: A randomized Controlled Trial (General Research Fund 2014 - 2016)

This study is a double-blind randomised controlled trial testing the effects of neuronavigated low-frequency rTMS on tinnitus. To achieve the statistical power sufficient to detect the treatment differences, 135 subjects with subjective tinnitus will be recruited and randomly assigned into one of the three following stimulation test categories: 1) real rTMS at the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), 2) real rTMS at the left primary auditory cortex and 3) sham rTMS at the left primary auditory cortex. Immediate and sustained outcomes will be evaluated using 1) the Chinese Tinnitus Questionnaire, 2) the Chinese Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, 3) a self-rated visual analogue scale on tinnitus loudness and 4) tinnitus loudness matches measured psychoacoustically. An intention-to-treat analysis will be performed. Using the rigorous study design of randomised controlled trials, our results will not only provide strong evidence in support of clinical decision making in tinnitus management, but also contribute a greater understanding of tinnitus mechanisms.

Funding Source: RGC - General Research Fund (GRF)