RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07435298

Navigated Repetitive TMS for Chronic Tinnitus

Neuronavigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation As An Adjunctive Treatment For Chronic Tinnitus

Sponsor

National University Hospital, Singapore

Enrollment

50 participants

Start Date

Nov 1, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Tinnitus

Summary

This study is testing whether a special type of brain stimulation called neuronavigated TMS can help reduce tinnitus (ringing in the ears). 50 people with tinnitus will each receive 20 treatment sessions - 10 real treatments and 10 sham treatments in random order, with a 2-week break between them. Before starting, participants get an MRI brain scan to guide where the stimulation device is placed. Questionnaires of measuring tinnitus severity will be asked four times throughout the study to determine to check the effect of TMS on treating tinnitus.

Eligibility

Min Age: 21 YearsMax Age: 80 Years

Inclusion Criteria2

Age 21-80 years old;
Subjective tinnitus severity as per Tinnitus-Visual Analogue Scale of 1/10 and above (in any domain: sound, distress, Quality of Life)

Exclusion Criteria9

Pregnancy;
Any metal implants inside the body that are contraindications of MRI scan;
Cardiac pacemakers;
Epilepsy with recurrent seizures;
Cognitively impaired patients will be excluded;
Claustrophobia;
Uncontrolled medical conditions including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and unstable angina;
Major depression and a history of psychotic disorders;
Terminal diagnosis with life expectancy \<=1 year.

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Interventions

DEVICEnavigated rTMS

Each session of rTMS (real or sham) consists of 1200 stimulations/day, conducted at once a day for five consecutive days (from Monday to Friday). For sham stimulation, the TMS coil will still centre on the same scalp position, but it was tilted to 90° so that scalp contact and discharging noise were similar, but the magnetic field did not reach cortical neurons at a biologically active level. The localization of the rTMS stimulation site (left Temporal Cortex) will be directed by a neuronavigation system imported with subject's MRI scan imaging to ensure the accuracy of rTMS stimulation area.