Impact of acupuncture on otoacoustic emissions in patients with tinnitus.
The treatment of tinnitus is still a challenge. Acupuncture is recommended for the relief of tinnitus in traditional Chinese Medicine, although scientific evidence is lacking.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acupuncture on the cochlear function in patients with tinnitus by analyzing otoacoustic emissions.


METHODS
Thirty eight patients with tinnitus were included in the prospective clinical study. Measures of transitory otoacoustic emissions and suppression of otoacoustic emissions were obtained from all subjects before and after acupuncture. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: intervention group 1 (n=19), in which needle acupuncture was applied at the temporoparietal point corresponding to the vestibulocochlear area, and intervention group 2 (n=19), in which the needle was applied 3 cm cranially to this area (which is not a recognized acupuncture point).


RESULTS
There was a significant difference between the amplitude of otoacoustic emissions assessed before and after acupuncture in intervention group 1. No difference was observed in intervention group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture had a significant effect on otoacoustic emissions in patients with tinnitus.
de Azevedo
Renata Frasson
RF
Speech Therapy Department, UNIFESP.
Chiari
Brasilia Maria
BM
Okada
Daniel Mochida
DM
Onishi
Ektor Tsuneo
ET
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome