Tinnitus affects millions of people each year, and for some, the ringing, buzzing, or hissing never goes away. In fact, an estimated 16 million Americans seek medical help for tinnitus every year. While the condition isn’t life-threatening, it can disrupt sleep, concentration, mood, and overall quality of life.
Traditional treatments such as hearing aids or counseling can help, but many patients continue to struggle with symptoms. This has led researchers and clinicians to explore new options that target tinnitus where it begins: the brain. One promising treatment is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a brain stimulation therapy that may help reduce phantom sounds, or sounds that aren’t really there.
Here’s what you need to know about TMS for tinnitus, how it works, and what you can expect.
What is Tinnitus?
the noises are real to the patient but can’t be heard by others. It’s often described as a ringing in the ears, but it can be a wide range of sounds, like buzzing, roaring, or humming.
For some, tinnitus fades or improves over time. For others, it’s chronic and may even worsen. Common causes include:
- Noise-induced hearing loss
- Age-related hearing decline
- Inner ear disorders
- Infections or head/neck injuries
- Neurological conditions
- Side effects of certain medications
Sadly, 10-60% of chronic tinnitus patients suffer from depression, and 28-45% experience clinically significant anxiety, making treatment a bit more nuanced.
Types of Tinnitus
Doctors recognize two types of tinnitus:
- Subjective tinnitus: Sounds that only the patient can hear, usually as a result of hearing loss or neurological changes. This is the most common type.
- Objective tinnitus: Sounds that can sometimes be detected by others as well as the patient. These noises come from internal body functions, like blood flow, and are rare.
Symptoms of Tinnitus
Everyone experiences tinnitus differently. Some patients hear it in one ear, others in both, and some in the middle of the head. The sound may be:
- Ringing, buzzing, or hissing
- Roaring, humming, or clicking
- Whistling, squealing, or mechanical-like sounds
It can be faint or intrusive, low- or high-pitched, and either constant or occasional. For some, symptoms are a minor distraction, and others struggle with concentration, mood, and sleep.
Standard Tinnitus Treatment Options
When you’re diagnosed with tinnitus, your doctor will address any underlying health problems first. Something like removing excess earwax, using hearing aids to correct hearing loss, or switching medications can sometimes reduce symptoms.
One of the most used treatments is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). While CBT doesn’t take the sound away, it does teach patients how to reduce the stress it causes. Research shows CBT can significantly lower tinnitus-related anxiety and depression while improving sleep and overall quality of life.
Other treatments include noise suppression (using devices like white noise machines or masking sounds to make tinnitus less noticeable) and medications. No drug cures tinnitus, but treating underlying anxiety or depression helps patients feel more in control of their symptoms.
What is TMS Therapy?
TMS therapy uses magnetic pulses to stimulate targeted areas of the brain. These pulses create tiny electrical currents that can either increase activity (excite neurons) or decrease activity (calm overactive neurons), depending on the frequency used.
Over time, TMS helps with neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to rewire and form new connections. This rewiring of communication between brain cells can reduce the abnormal activity patterns caused by tinnitus.
How Can TMS Help Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is believed to come from hyperactive or misfiring brain circuits within the auditory system. Instead of silence, these circuits fire inappropriately and create the perception of phantom sound. Here’s where and how TMS helps:
- Auditory cortex: When this area fires too much, the brain interprets it as ringing or buzzing. Low-frequency rTMS can calm this overactivity.
- Prefrontal cortex: This area affects mood, attention, and sound perception. High-frequency rTMS may strengthen its ability to quiet tinnitus signals.
Thalamus, fusiform gyrus, and cerebellum: Research shows rTMS can help the brain tune out ringing sounds that may develop from these areas of the brain.
What to Expect During TMS Treatment
During a TMS session, patients will sit in a comfortable chair and stay awake throughout the procedure. The clinician will then measure the head to find the right spot on the scalp to place the magnetic coil.
Before treatment starts, the machine is adjusted to the patient’s individual protocol to ensure the stimulation is safe and effective. After that, magnetic pulses will be delivered in short bursts.
Each appointment lasts around 20-40 minutes. Sessions are typically scheduled five days a week and continue for several weeks, depending on the treatment plan. Most patients see gradual improvements over the course of treatment.
What are the Benefits of TMS for Tinnitus?
TMS offers several advantages over traditional tinnitus treatments. Since it targets the brain directly, it avoids many of the limitations of medications or masking devices. Benefits include:
- No surgery or needles
- No anesthesia
- Potentially reduces the reliance on medications
- Painless (may feel light tapping sensation on scalp)
- No downtime (can return to normal activities after sessions)
Risks and Considerations
TMS is considered very safe with few complications. The most common effects are mild and temporary, improving shortly after a session:
- Headache or scalp discomfort
- Tingling at the treatment site
- Twitching of facial muscles or jaw
- Temporary increase in tinnitus ringing
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Mild nausea
Rare risks include seizures; however, this happens in less than 1% of patients.
Does TMS Work for Tinnitus?
TMS isn’t approved by the FDA for tinnitus treatment, but that hasn’t stopped researchers from studying its efficacy. Here’s what studies have found:
- Repetitive TMS (rTMS) begins showing benefits within the first week, and improvements can last up to six months after treatment.
- In one analysis, 62% of patients improved on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), a questionnaire that measures how much tinnitus interferes with daily life. 66% improved on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a tool that allows patients to rate the severity of their tinnitus.
- Another study found that almost 42% of patients experienced a 10-point or greater drop in THI scores two months after treatment.
- In a post-trauma trial, rTMS significantly reduced tinnitus behaviors in animals within one week. Some subjects maintained relief for six weeks, while others improved for shorter periods.
While results have varied in clinical research, these findings suggest that TMS has the potential to provide measurable relief for many patients, especially those who haven’t had success with other treatments.
Get Lasting Tinnitus Relief at Pulse TMS
At Pulse TMS, we understand how disruptive tinnitus can be. That’s why we provide advanced TMS therapy, an emerging tinnitus treatment that’s safe, non-invasive, and backed by science.
Our team of certified TMS specialists is dedicated to providing treatment in a setting that’s professional and compassionate. Each treatment plan is drafted to meet the specific needs of our patients, so you can rest assured you have the highest level of support and the best chance for relief that lasts.
Call Pulse TMS today to schedule your consultation and learn how we can provide individualized care that works best for you.
Let’s Discuss Treatment Options.
