Repeated Bilateral Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over Auditory Cortex for Tinnitus

[Ngo13]

I've come across this trial for tDCS, and the results look promising. I'll admit I don't have a ton of knowledge about tDCS, but this trial found statistically significant results in lowered THI score, as well as distress and loudness VAS. It also included a placebo group and the results of the active treatment seem to have some lingering effect.

→ Repeated Bilateral Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over Auditory Cortex for Tinnitus Treatment: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

 

[Muggumbo]

One neat thing is that the device they used is already available. Looks like you can get one for $500.

 

[Note]

Is there a picture that shows where to place the anode/cathode?

 

[Andrew40]

One neat thing is that the device they used is already available. Looks like you can get one for $500.

I would like to know what the device looks like and where it is sold for $500?

 

[Muggumbo]

I would like to know what the device looks like and where it is sold for $500?

https://mindalive.com/products/oasis-pro

 

[RunningMan]

It would be worth it if it worked. Post your feedback here if you try it.

 

[ploughna]

There's an active thread already on here for rTMS, tACS, tDCS, etc., that's been going since 2012, quoting various studies, people's experiences, etc., with generally inconclusive or no positive results.

Can anyone figure out what's different, if anything, this time?

 

[Note]

To our knowledge, this is the first double blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial investigating the effect of repeated sessions of bilateral anodal/cathodal tDCS over left/right AC with one month follow-up for the treatment of chronic intractable tinnitus.

So nobody has done repeated sessions of bilateral anodal/cathodal tDCS over left/right AC before?

 

[Yeshua7]

One neat thing is that the device they used is already available. Looks like you can get one for $500.

Do you have any experience using an Oasis Pro, or do you know anyone who has used one? I think it would be good for sleep and anxiety instead of pharmaceuticals.

 

[Muggumbo]

Do you have any experience using an Oasis Pro, or do you know anyone who has used one? I think it would be good for sleep and anxiety instead of pharmaceuticals.

I know nothing about it. I just googled the device mentioned in the study and noticed it could be bought.

 

[withintention]

I'd be willing to try Oasis Pro. Does anyone know if it's possible to determine where exactly they placed the electrode? Is there a more detailed paper available somewhere?

 

[streifzug]

(b) is the auditory cortex. You will likely need the electrodes and sponges with the same placement, size, and current as in the paper. It's not as easy as one would think, but it might be worth it. I think you will need 35cm² sponges - for 5x7cm electrodes.

Treatment parameters:

• Electrode size
• Polarity
• Electrode placement and configuration
• Current amplitude and density
• Treatment duration
• Number of sessions and total dose

 

[withintention]

Thanks! Where did you pull that from? I would like to see more of a side view of (b).

 

[streifzug]

Thanks! Where did you pull that from? I would like to see more of a side view of (b).

This is the source of the graphics and a good read on the topic.

 

[Nick47]

The results are quite impressive. They are all chronic cases, with the treatment group's THI going down to 46 from 73. The placebo showed no change.

God knows why this is not in the tDCS thread, but hey, it's certainly doing something.

 

[MiaVIL]

How do you try this?

 

[withintention]

It sounds like you can just buy a device, strap it to your head, and zap yourself. But I'm personally a little wary of doing that with as little medical knowledge as I have.

I found this program.

I'm doing a screening call with them later in the month. They lease you a device and walk you through the treatment program.

They said they have not had any tinnitus patients yet.

 

[dd314]

Has anyone tried this yet? It seems too good to be true.

 

[Bhaveen]

It sounds like you can just buy a device, strap it to your head, and zap yourself. But I'm personally a little wary of doing that with as little medical knowledge as I have.

I found this program.

I'm doing a screening call with them later in the month. They lease you a device and walk you through the treatment program.

They said they have not had any tinnitus patients yet.

I believe the "Flow Neuroscience" device, a new take-home treatment for depression recently launched in the UK, works in a similar way. I've read reviews where people have experienced significant improvements in their depression and seen their lives change for the better. However, I've also come across reports of some users experiencing side effects like tinnitus. I think this may be related to the placement of the stimulation. Good luck!

 

[sspencermo]

It sounds like you can just buy a device, strap it to your head, and zap yourself. But I'm personally a little wary of doing that with as little medical knowledge as I have.

I found this program.

I'm doing a screening call with them later in the month. They lease you a device and walk you through the treatment program.

They said they have not had any tinnitus patients yet.

Wow -- please keep us posted. It looks like the visits are virtual, so it would be available to those not in the NY area. I'll be curious to find out the cost, since all the treatments are supervised. Maybe we could get together and sponsor someone to try it?

 

[Alberte]

It sounds like you can just buy a device, strap it to your head, and zap yourself. But I'm personally a little wary of doing that with as little medical knowledge as I have.

I found this program.

I'm doing a screening call with them later in the month. They lease you a device and walk you through the treatment program.

They said they have not had any tinnitus patients yet.

I looked at the program, and I did not see that it can treat tinnitus, did you?

 

[withintention]

I've done the initial consultation. It was via Zoom and cost $250. They have not treated tinnitus before, but they are familiar with the studies and are willing to try it with me. I'm currently in the process of ordering the headset from them.

It's all virtual. I am on the US West Coast, which is not a problem. I will post as I learn more.

To temper expectations, I should also share that they said there are far more studies that show tDCS does not help tinnitus than there are studies that show it does.

They are skeptical it will help, but are willing to let me try.

 

[Bhaveen]

I've done the initial consultation. It was via Zoom and cost $250. They have not treated tinnitus before, but they are familiar with the studies and are willing to try it with me. I'm currently in the process of ordering the headset from them.

It's all virtual. I am on the US West Coast, which is not a problem. I will post as I learn more.

To temper expectations, I should also share that they said there are far more studies that show tDCS does not help tinnitus than there are studies that show it does.

They are skeptical it will help, but are willing to let me try.

Are they telling you where to place the electrodes? There are a couple of places in the UK that offer this treatment specifically for tinnitus. I've never looked into them, but my understanding is that the placement of the electrodes varies depending on the condition being treated.

I also want to wish you the best of luck!

 

[Nick47]

There are a couple of places in the UK that offer this treatment specifically for tinnitus.

Do you know which ones they are?

 

[Bhaveen]

Do you know which ones they are?

Hey Nick,

The rTMS Centre

The London Psychiatry Centre

The first one conducts a QEEG before treatment, which makes it feel like they take a more targeted approach. I was only hesitant because of the story I found here about @JoeBattams, but I understand that his case was more related to noise exposure.

One would hope that the institutions mentioned above have experience treating people and know the best placement for the electrodes.

 

[Nick47]

This treatment thread is not about rTMS, @Bhaveen. tDCS is different.

 

[Bhaveen]

This treatment thread is not about rTMS, @Bhaveen. tDCS is different.

Sorry, guys, my bad.

 

[withintention]

Finally got my device from NYU Langone! It was custom-made to position the anode and cathode over the appropriate brain region. I did my first session with them this morning, which lasted 20 minutes.

They suggested that I play my tinnitus tone at a low volume during the treatment. This isn't part of the study protocol, but the team at NYU has found it beneficial to pair the tDCS with an activity that activates the targeted brain region. For example, when working with people who have balance issues, they encourage them to try balancing during the treatment.

I could only listen to the tone for about 15 minutes of the 20-minute session. It felt like it was exacerbating my tinnitus, and afterward, it either spiked or, at the very least, made me much more aware of it.

I'm considering not using the tone next time, since it wasn't part of the original study, and I'm concerned it could lead to unexpected side effects.

What do others think?

 

[viciouspuddin]

Finally got my device from NYU Langone! It was custom-made to position the anode and cathode over the appropriate brain region. I did my first session with them this morning, which lasted 20 minutes.

They suggested that I play my tinnitus tone at a low volume during the treatment. This isn't part of the study protocol, but the team at NYU has found it beneficial to pair the tDCS with an activity that activates the targeted brain region. For example, when working with people who have balance issues, they encourage them to try balancing during the treatment.

I could only listen to the tone for about 15 minutes of the 20-minute session. It felt like it was exacerbating my tinnitus, and afterward, it either spiked or, at the very least, made me much more aware of it.

I'm considering not using the tone next time, since it wasn't part of the original study, and I'm concerned it could lead to unexpected side effects.

What do others think?

Hello, Do you happen to have any feedback on how it went? I only received this thread recently and have been reading it. I'm very interested to know if you had any success or not. Thank you very much.

 

[withintention]

I can share some initial details.

I tried the device for about one month and felt like I was having more "good" days toward the end of the month. I did not detect a change in the tinnitus volume, but I felt like it bothered me less. This could, of course, be the placebo effect.

I wanted to be more systematic about my approach to testing the device, so I stopped using it to return to baseline. I started tracking my tinnitus distress each day in a spreadsheet without the device, with the plan of then resuming its use and seeing if there was an actual change in how many "good" days I had. A few events occurred that prevented me from resuming my use of the device as quickly as I wanted to. As it stands now, I will be resuming my use of the device sometime in May.

After a couple of months of use, I will report back with my results. So probably around July, I will report back with a more systematic analysis.

I am using the following custom scale to rate my tinnitus each day:

1. Minimal – Tinnitus is present but doesn't bother me. No distress.

2. Mild – Occasionally annoying, but I have moments where I can ignore it. Doesn't interfere with daily life.

3. Moderate – Distracting. Causes frustration and anxiety, but is manageable. Never really able to ignore it.

4. Severe – Impossible to do focused work. Causes significant distress for most of the day.

5. Extreme – Overwhelming and constant distress. Impossible to function at all.