Treatment of Tinnitus With Noninvasive Neuromodulation and Listening Therapy (TDCS)
Tinnitus, Subjective, Hyperacusis, Hearing Disorders
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Tinnitus, Subjective
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- chronic tinnitus and or hyperacusis (> 8 months)
- adults (18-80 years old)
Exclusion Criteria:
- implanted metal or devices including cochlear implants,
- bullet wounds, head/neck tattoo,
- metal in the eyes,
- other diagnosed neurological disorders (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's, dementia, brain tumors),
- head trauma or brain surgery, psychiatric disorders,
- personal or family history of epilepsy, other seizure disorders
- Individuals with a history of Meniere's Disease, pulsatile tinnitus, otosclerosis, and
- chronic headaches.
- conductive hearing loss, or
- fluctuating hearing thresholds
- pure tone averages >70dB HL
Sites / Locations
- University of Arizona
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Sham Comparator
active TDCS and listening therapy
sham TDCS and listening therapy
TDCS will be administered with NeurConn1 Channel DC-Stimulator Plus (neuroCare Group, München, Germany) according to established guidelines and procedures. The active tDCS will be delivered for 20 minutes at 2mA with a 15-s ramp-up and ramp-down period. Excitatory/anodal tDCS or sham will be administered alongside active listening therapy 5 times a week for 2 weeks.
The sham stimulation will also last for 20 min with 15 sec ramp-up and ramp-down, except the current will be turned down gradually to 0 milliamperes (mA) after 30 seconds. The sham procedure provides the same tingling and itching sensation felt during active tDCS. The sham parameters were chosen based on previous reports that the perceived sensations on the skin, such as tingling, fade out in the first 30 s of tDCS