repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for tinnitus: influence of loudness and frequency of tinnitus on tinnitus suppression

background and aim: tinnitus is a distressing symptom for which few treatments exist. low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rtms) of the temporal cortex has been proposed as a treatment for chronic tinnitus. this study determined relationship between psychoacoustic parameters such as loudness and frequency of tinnitus and outcome with rtms treatment. methods: twenty six patients (22 male, 4 female) with chronic tinnitus received low frequency (1 hz) rtms at intensity 110% motor thre­shold and 1200 stimuli on three subsequent days to the left auditory cortex. the treatment out­come was assessed with loudness balance test and tinnitus handicap inventory (thi). results: there was a significant difference between loudness of tinnitus and thi scores before and after rtms. there was no correlation between psychoacoustic parameters loudness and frequency of tinnitus and rtms treatment outcome. conclusion: our data suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, regardless of loudness and frequency of tinnitus, can be used as a therapeutical tool for the treatment of tinnitus.