Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients With Tinnitus: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: Subjective tinnitus is a phantom sensation experienced without any external source of sound that profoundly impacts the quality of life. Some investigations have claimed that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) reduces tinnitus, but studies on tDCS have demonstrated variable results. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of tDCS on patients with tinnitus. Methods: We searched for articles published through January 5, 2016, in Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar using the following keywords: tinnitus, transcranial direct current stimulation, and tDCS. The study outcomes were change in magnitude estimates of loudness (loudness), tinnitus-related distress (distress), and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Results: Pooled results demonstrated that tDCS did not have a beneficial effect on loudness (pooled standardized difference in means = 0.674, 95% CI,-0.089 to 1.437, P = .083). Further, the pooled results demonstrated a greater reduction in distress for the tDCS group (pooled standardized difference in means = 0.634, 95% CI, 0.021-1.247, P = .043). Conclusions: We conclude that the pooled results demonstrated a greater reduction in distress for groups treated with tDCS as compared with those administered a sham treatment.

Multidisciplinary Tinnitus Research: Challenges and Future Directions From the Perspective of Early Stage Researchers

“…Jacquemin et al (2018) compared tDCS of either LTA or DLPFC to HD-tDCS of DLPFC and found a clinically significant improvement in 32% of the participants regardless of stimulation position. Two systematic reviews with meta-analysis on the efficacy of tDCS for tinnitus have been carried out, showing a significant reduction in either tinnitus loudness (Song et al, 2012) or tinnitus-related distress (Wang et al, 2018) when compared to sham protocols. These reviews only included six and eight studies respectively and both concluded more RCTs are needed to draw firm conclusions.…”

Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus—New Research Developments and Remaining Gaps in Disease Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention

“…Study results have suggested that tinnitus is generated by aberrant neural changes in the central auditory structures that occur when these structures are deafferented by damage to the cochlea, as detected with audiograms or other more-sensitive measures, such as imaging, magnetoencephalography, and auditory evoked potential [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Neural plasticity is involved in these changes, including spontaneous activity, bursting and synchronous activity among neurons in subcortical and cortical auditor regions, and strengthened inputs from somatosensory to deafferented auditory structures [ 32 ]. Individuals who have developed severe deafness after long-term NIHL can only rely on cochlear implants or hearing aids to improve hearing; regeneration of hair cells would be needed in order to restore hearing completely [ 18 ].…”

Introductory Chapter: Management of Tinnitus - The Views of Various Disciplines

“…Recently, the treatment can come in many forms, such as sound therapy, counseling, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) [2], temporomandibular disorder (TMD) treatment [5], acupuncture, herbal medicine, or other alternative treatments. This is why more and more data have revealed to achieve the aim, getting rid of tinnitus successfully.…”