Sequential dual-site High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) treatment in chronic subjective tinnitus: study protocol of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Background Chronic tinnitus is a highly prevalent symptom, with many patients reporting considerable effects of tinnitus on quality of life. No clear evidence-based treatment options are currently available. While counseling-based methods are valuable in some cases, they are not sufficiently effective for all tinnitus patients. Neuromodulation techniques such as high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) are proposed to have positive effects on tinnitus severity but, to date, these effects have not been proven conclusively. The proposed trial will investigate the hypothesis that chronic tinnitus patients receiving HD-tDCS will report a positive effect on the impact of tinnitus on daily life, as compared to patients receiving sham stimulation.