Oregon – New research reveals through a recent study a potential cure for Tinnitus Condition. The symptoms can be significantly alleviated with an noninvasive treatment called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

Tinnitus is a condition that affects over 45 million people in the United States, up to 15 percent of the adults in the country manifests that they often hear a ringing or clicking sound with no apparent explanation.

Tinnitus patient showing signs of discomfort from ringing noise in the ears.
Tinnitus patient showing signs of discomfort from ringing noise in the ears.

Dr. Robert L. Folmer OHSU researcher and his colleagues studied the effects of a system for TMS on patients with Tinnitus condition. The system produces a magnetic field in form of a cone that can penetrate the scalp and skull of an individual and effectively interact with tissues in the brain.

The study involved 64 people diagnosed with Tinnitus for at least a year. Some of the patients received repetitive TMS sessions on a period of 10 days, while others were subjected with placebo treatment. The process involves delivering 2,000 electromagnetic pulses per session, especially designed to target the brain’s auditory cortex.

The results of the research were encouraging, the symptoms diminished for at least six months in half of the patients who received actual treatment instead of the placebo treatment. The research also showed that a significant part of the tinnitus patients who have had the condition for over 20 years experienced an important reduction of symptoms.

“For some study participants, this was the first time in years that they experienced any relief in symptoms. These promising results bring us closer to developing a long-sought treatment for this condition that affects an enormous number of Americans, including many men and women who have served in our armed forces.” Robert L. Folmer said.

Currently, there are no proven treatments available for Tinnitus condition. The U.S Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has only approved the use of the TMS system for treating depression.

The scientist strongly believe that this research will help increase with a larger clinical trial the use of TMS for clinical conditions.

Source: JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.