Photomed Laser Surg. 2010 Jun;28(3):371-7.
Pain threshold improvement for chronic hyperacusis patients in a prospective clinical study.
Zazzio M.
Audio Laser-Kliniken, Flygeln, Hovmantorp, Sweden. audiolaser@mail.nu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate if laser therapy in combination with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy/repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and the control of reactive oxygen species (ROS) would lead to positive treatment results for hyperacusis patients.
BACKGROUND DATA: Eight of the first ten patients treated for tinnitus, who were also suffering from chronic hyperacusis, claimed their hyperacusis improved. Based upon that, a prospective, unblinded, uncontrolled clinical trial was planned and conducted. ROS and hyperacusis pain thresholds were measured.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients were treated twice a week with a combination of therapeutic laser, rTMS, and the control and adjustment of ROS. A magnetic field of no more than 100 microT was oriented behind the outer ear, in the area of the mastoid bone. ROS were measured and controlled by administering different antioxidants. At every treatment session, 177-504 J of laser light of two different wavelengths was administered toward the inner ear via meatus acusticus.
RESULTS: The improvements were significantly better in the verum group than in a placebo group, where 40% of the patients were expected to have a positive treatment effect. The patients in the long-term follow-up group received significantly greater improvements than the patients in the short-term follow-up group.
CONCLUSION: The treatment is effective in treating chronic hyperacusis.
HNO. 2006 Jun;54(6):439-44.
Treatment of chronic tinnitus with neuronavigated repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS).
[Article in German]
Kleinjung T, Steffens T, Langguth B, Eichhammer P, Marienhagen J, Hajak G, Strutz J.
Klinik für HNO-Heilkunde der Universität Regensburg, Regensburg. tobias.kleinjung@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic tinnitus is a frequent and debilitating disorder of largely unknown pathophysiology. Focal brain activation in the auditory cortex has recently been demonstrated in chronic tinnitus. Low-frequency rTMS can reduce cortical hyperexcitability.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 12 patients with chronic tinnitus, fusion of [18F]deoxyglucose-PET and structural MRI (T1, MPRAGE) scans allowed the area of increased metabolic activity in the auditory cortex to be exactly identified; this area was selected as the target for rTMS. A neuronavigational system adapted for TMS positioning enabled the relative positions of the figure-8 coil and the target area to be monitored. Repetitive TMS (110% motor threshold; 1 Hz; 2000 stimuli per day over 5 days) was performed using a placebo-controlled crossover design. A sham coil system was used for the placebo stimulation. Treatment outcome was assessed with a specific tinnitus questionnaire (Goebel and Hiller).
RESULTS: In all 12 patients an asymmetrically increased metabolic activation of the gyrus of Heschl was detected. The tinnitus score was significantly improved after 5 days of active rTMS, an effect not seen after placebo stimulation.
CONCLUSION: These preliminary results show that neuronavigated rTMS may improve our understanding and treatment of chronic tinnitus.
| HNO. 2005 Sep 17; [Epub ahead of print] |
Treatment of chronic tinnitus with neuronavigated repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)[Treatment of chronic tinnitus with neuronavigated repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS).
[Article in German]
Kleinjung T, Steffens T, Langguth B, Eichhammer P, Marienhagen J, Hajak G, Strutz J.
Klinik fur HNO-Heilkunde der Universitat Regensburg.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic tinnitus is a frequent and debilitating disorder of largely unknown pathophysiology. Focal brain activation in the auditory cortex has recently been demonstrated in chronic tinnitus. Low-frequency rTMS can reduce cortical hyperexcitability.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 12 patients with chronic tinnitus, fusion of [(18)F]deoxyglucose-PET and structural MRI (T1, MPRAGE) scans allowed the area of increased metabolic activity in the auditory cortex to be exactly identified; this area was selected as the target for rTMS. A neuronavigational system adapted for TMS positioning enabled the relative positions of the figure-8 coil and the target area to be monitored. Repetitive TMS (110% motor threshold; 1 Hz; 2000 stimuli per day over 5 days) was performed using a placebo-controlled crossover design. A sham coil system was used for the placebo stimulation. Treatment outcome was assessed with a specific tinnitus questionnaire (Goebel and Hiller).
RESULTS: In all 12 patients an asymmetrically increased metabolic activation of the gyrus of Heschl was detected. The tinnitus score was significantly improved after 5 days of active rTMS, an effect not seen after placebo stimulation.
CONCLUSION: These preliminary results show that neuronavigated rTMS may improve our understanding and treatment of chronic tinnitus.
| Otol Neurotol. 2005 Jul;26(4):616-9. |
Transcranial magnetic stimulation for tinnitus: influence of tinnitus duration on stimulation parameter choice and maximal tinnitus suppression.
De Ridder D, Verstraeten E, Van der Kelen K, De Mulder G, Sunaert S, Verlooy J, Van de Heyning P, Moller A.
Department of Neurosurgery and Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium. dirk.de.ridder@uza.be
OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus is a distressing symptom for which few treatments exist. It leads to an important decrease in quality of life in 2 to 3% of the population. Tinnitus is considered a phantom sound, the result of cortical reorganization. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method to modulate cortical reorganization and has been shown to be able to influence tinnitus perception.
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis.
SETTING: Tertiary referral center.
PATIENTS: The effect of TMS of the contralateral auditory cortex in 114 patients with unilateral tinnitus is investigated as one of the selection criteria used for surgical implantation of electrodes on the auditory cortex.
INTERVENTION: TMS is performed at 90% of motor threshold at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20 Hz, with each stimulation session consisting of 200 pulses. Results were classified as no effect (0-19% improvement), partial effect (20-79% improvement), and good effect (80-100 suppression).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: TMS had a good effect in 25% of the patients studied, partial effect in 28% patients, and no effect in 47%.
RESULTS: TMS at 200 pulses is capable of tinnitus suppression for seconds only. The results were influenced by tinnitus duration: the longer the tinnitus exists, the lower the stimulation frequency that yields maximal tinnitus suppression (p < 0.001). The maximal amount of tinnitus suppression decreases in time (p < 0.01), resulting in a 2% decrease of potential tinnitus suppression per year.
CONCLUSION: TMS of the auditory cortex is capable of modifying tinnitus perception for a very short time. The maximal amount of suppression and best stimulation frequency depends on the tinnitus duration.
| Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1993 Aug;18(4):278-81. |
Electromagnetic stimulation as a treatment of tinnitus: a pilot study.
Roland NJ, Hughes JB, Daley MB, Cook JA, Jones AS, McCormick MS.
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK.
This paper reports the results of a study to determine whether pulsed electromagnetic stimulation, applied over the mastoid bone, caused an improvement in the level of tinnitus in long-standing tinnitus sufferers. Fifty-eight patients from the Liverpool Tinnitus Association volunteered to take part in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. Active and placebo devices were randomly allocated to these patients on their first visit. At the end of one week of treatment, each patient noted whether their tinnitus had completely disappeared, was improved, unchanged or made worse by the treatment Forty-five per cent of the patients who completed the trial were improved by the active device, but only 9% by placebo (P = 0.0013, Mann-Whitney test). We suggest that electromagnetic stimulation may be an effective treatment in some tinnitus sufferers.
| Vestn Otorinolaringol. 2002;(1):11-4. |
Electrophysical effects in combined treatment of neurosensory hypoacusis.
Article in Russian]
Morenko VM, Enin IP.
The authors consider different methods of electrobiophysical impacts on the body in the treatment of neurosensory hypoacusis: laser beam, laser puncture, electrostimulation, magnetotherapy, magnetolasertherapy, electrophoresis, etc. These methods find more and more intensive application in modern medicine. Further success of physiotherapy for neurosensory hypoacusis depends on adequate knowledge about mechanisms of action of each physical method used and introduction of novel techniques.
| Vestn Otorinolaringol. 2001;(4):10-2. |
Cerebral hemodynamics in patients with neurosensory hearing loss before and after magnetotherapy. a prospective clinical study.
Article in Russian]
Morenko VM, Enin IP.
Magnetotherapy effects on cerebral hemodynamics were studied using rheoencephalography (REG). When the treatment results and changes in cerebral hemodynamics were compared it was evident that normalization or improvement of vascular status in vertebrobasilar and carotid territories registered at REG results in better hearing. This confirms the role of vascular factor in pathogenesis of neurosensory hypoacusis of different etiology and effectiveness of magnetotherapy in such patients.
| Vestn Otorinolaringol. 1996 Nov-Dec;(6):23-6. |
The treatment of hypoacusis in children by using a pulsed low-frequency electromagnetic field.
[Article in Russian]
Bogomil’skii MR, Sapozhnikov IaM, Zaslavskii AIu, Tarutin NP.
The authors provide specifications of the unit INFITA supplied with ELEMAGS attachment of their own design; the technique of treating hypoacusis in children with utilization of impulse low-frequency electromagnetic field; the results of this treatment in 105 hypoacusis children. The method was found highly effective and valuable for wide practice.
| Med Tekh. 1995 Mar-Apr;(2):40-1. |
ELEMAGS. apparatus and clinical experience in its use in the treatment of children with hypoacusis and otalgia.
[Article in Russian]
Zaslavskii AIu, Sapozhnikov IaM, Markarov GS, Gelis IuS.
To enhance effectiveness of magnetotherapy in the treatment of otic diseases the authors propose to use impulse low-frequency electromagnetic field in combination with constant magnetic field. ELEMAGS equipment based on the above principles is introduced to treat cochlear neuritis and neurosensory hypoacusis in children.
| Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 1994 Jan-Feb;(1):16-9. |
The magnetic amplipulse therapy of vestibular dysfunctions of vascular origin by using the Sedaton apparatus (experimental research).
[Article in Russian]
Mal’tsev AE.
The paper describes the results of combined utilization of magnetic field (MF), sinusoidal modulated current (SMC) and galvanic current (GC) generated by a specially devised unit “Sedaton”. This multimodality physiotherapy was tested in chronic experiments on 25 cats with experimental vascular and vestibular dysfunction. MF in combination with SMC displayed greater efficacy than in monotherapy. Positive physiological reactions were more pronounced.