TMS Treatment Experience and Tinnitus Fluctuation After Headphone Use

[OjaiTed]

New here. I just finished 10 days of TMS at UCLA, and I think it helped a little. My tinnitus is not as loud, and it changes throughout the day. The treatment was expensive, and I was told that about half of their patients report some improvement.

I just noticed that my tinnitus seemed to get louder after working on an orchestra score using headphones. Is it common for tinnitus to worsen after exposure to loud music or noise?

 

[Andrei88]

I was considering this (TMS), but it seems a bit expensive for what it promises.

To answer your question about headphones—yes, it's common for tinnitus to get louder after using them. This is probably more noticeable in people whose tinnitus is due to hearing damage, like in my case. I'm a former musician, played guitar and drums.

After multiple accidental exposures to loud music and sounds, my tinnitus has worsened significantly over the years.

 

[Ozhe]

New here. I just finished 10 days of TMS at UCLA, and I think it helped a little. My tinnitus is not as loud, and it changes throughout the day. The treatment was expensive, and I was told that about half of their patients report some improvement.

I just noticed that my tinnitus seemed to get louder after working on an orchestra score using headphones. Is it common for tinnitus to worsen after exposure to loud music or noise?

Are you trying to reduce the excitability of your auditory cortex using electromagnetic pulses, while at the same time continuing to stimulate it with loud music, which involves vibrations and can further damage an already compromised auditory system?

 

[virginiadoc]

I am also considering transcranial magnetic stimulation. The cost is a concern, but even a small reduction in symptoms would be a relief.

Be careful with loud sound bursts, especially those near the frequency of your tinnitus, as they could damage delicate hair cells. I believe transcranial magnetic stimulation has good potential if it is applied according to each person's specific needs.

Thank you for sharing this.

 

[dd314]

@OjaiTed, was it loud?

 

[Jammer]

I am also considering transcranial magnetic stimulation. The cost is a concern, but even a small reduction in symptoms would be a relief.

Be careful with loud sound bursts, especially those near the frequency of your tinnitus, as they could damage delicate hair cells. I believe transcranial magnetic stimulation has good potential if it is applied according to each person's specific needs.

Thank you for sharing this.

I'm curious as to the cost. Can you share?

 

[Ozhe]

There are already several threads on TMS in this forum, including dramatic cases where people have tried it and, unfortunately, found no benefit at best. The key to applying inhibitory rTMS to the auditory cortex for tinnitus lies in a personalized approach. It is not a one-size-fits-all procedure.

Brain mapping techniques, such as qEEG, are used to identify individual areas of neuronal hyperactivity in the patient. This allows clinicians to target magnetic stimulation to the precise location where it may have the greatest effect.

Although these techniques have shown promising results, they remain in the research and development stage. Further studies are needed to establish standardized treatment protocols and to determine their long-term effectiveness.

 

[virginiadoc]

The cost of TMS is about $400 to $700 per treatment, and many sessions are usually required. Insurance often does not cover tinnitus treatment, as it is considered experimental and off-label.