rTMS for Tinnitus

Tinnitus often arises not in the ear alone but in the brain: after hearing damage or stress, the auditory system can become overactive and "generate" a sound with no external source. Auditory areas as well as networks for attention and emotional appraisal are involved, which is why tinnitus is often tied to tension and poor sleep.

rTMS aims to dampen this overactivity. How closely perception, attention and distress are linked is shown in our overview of the six brain networks.

A magnetic coil delivers painless pulses to auditory-processing areas (often the temporoparietal cortex). Low-frequency protocols are intended to down-regulate the overactivity there. rTMS is a course-based method across several sessions, not a one-off procedure.

You can read how the technique works in principle on the rTMS page. With us it begins with a structured assessment; qEEG brain mapping is added when it sharpens the choice of target region.

Because tinnitus is strongly tied to attention and tension, neurofeedback can be a sensible second building block: it trains self-regulation and may help loosen the focus on the sound and reduce distress. With us we rarely use "just one device" but a coordinated programme matched to your measured profile.

The evidence for rTMS in tinnitus is mixed. Some studies and meta-analyses show moderate effects in a subset of patients, while others find no clear benefit over placebo. How strongly you respond is individual, which is why we measure before and after.

We state this deliberately openly: rTMS for tinnitus is an attempt with a realistic chance of benefit for some people, not a sure recipe. Whether it makes sense for you is decided individually. We summarise the evidence under Science & Studies.

After the assessment we set the target region, frequency and number of sessions. Sessions usually take place several times a week over a few weeks; you stay awake and are fit for daily life straight afterwards. rTMS is considered well tolerated; most common are a tapping sensation or a short-lived headache at the stimulation site. Whether a course makes sense for you is something we clarify in the free initial consultation.

We review contraindications (e.g. certain metal implants in the head, a history of epilepsy) beforehand. More in Is rTMS painful? and on the Tinnitus page.