[Treatment of tinnitus by electrical stimulation of the ear]

After a short historic review of the electrical stimulation in the treatment of tinnitus, the authors recall the fundamental principles of the bases of this therapy. Following the evolution of their ideas on this subject, they present the principles and methods of many different types of stimulation: (Transtympanic, sinusoidal, transcutaneus, auriculotherapy). They also discuss the results of their efficiency which ranges between 10 to 40%. The authors then reached an agreed upon opinion that the transtympanic electrical stimulation in square positive waves which ables them to obtain in nearly 60% of patients a positive effect, and in 23% a long term results is the most preferable one till now. They finally exposed a personal case in which the implantation of a permanent stimulation electrode was needed to be undergone, this is restricted to patients who suffer from unbearable tinnitus with profound deafness.