Neuromodulation for Subjective Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.
Dimitrios Kitsis, Giorgos Sideris, Agapi Skouloudaki et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness and safety of neuromodulation and bimodal stimulation for chronic subjective tinnitus in adults. Analyzing 26 randomized controlled trials with 1576 participants, the study found that bimodal stimulation provided consistent and clinically meaningful reductions in tinnitus severity, while other modalities showed average benefits with safety concerns primarily for implanted approaches.
Key findings
- Bimodal stimulation yielded consistent reductions of ≥ 10-20 points on THI/TFI.
- tDCS showed a nonsignificant pooled effect (SMD -0.36; 95% CI -0.75 to 0.02).
- rTMS also demonstrated a nonsignificant effect (SMD -0.15; 95% CI -0.37 to 0.07).
- Adverse events were mild and transient across noninvasive modalities.
Why it matters
Understanding the effectiveness of neuromodulation techniques for tinnitus can guide clinicians in selecting appropriate treatment options for patients suffering from this challenging condition, potentially improving quality of life.