• Sun Kyu Lee, Hoon Chung, Ji Hyun Chung, Seung Gun Yeo, Mun Suh Park, and Jae Yong Byun.
• Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University , Seoul , Korea.
• Acta Otolaryngol. 2014 Feb 1; 134 (2): 159-67.

ConclusionBased on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores, transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) can provide relief from tinnitus. Response to electrical stimulation was best seen in patients with low-frequency tinnitus and with mild hearing loss.ObjectiveTENS is known to alleviate symptoms of tinnitus. However, study of the effectiveness of TENS for tinnitus has produced variable results, and it is still unclear what kind of patients with tinnitus would respond best to TENS. Here, we assessed the effects of TENS on the perception of tinnitus using the THI and VAS questionnaires.MethodsA total of 65 patients with tinnitus were divided into two groups: 45 patients received TENS and 20 patients received placebo (sham stimulation) twice a week over 4 weeks. THI and VAS scores were assessed before and after electrical stimulation. We also evaluated the effects of TENS on the degree of initial hearing loss and tinnitus frequency.ResultsTwenty-eight of 45 patients (62.2%) revealed subjective improvement in tinnitus with TENS. TENS was more effective in patients with low-frequency tinnitus or with mild hearing loss. Symptomatic improvement in the electrical stimulation group was achieved for 1 month in most patients.

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