Acupuncture for refractory cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture on the treatment of refractory sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), treatment of which remains a major clinical challenge.


METHODS
The study design was descriptive research to document the effect of acupuncture in a series of SSHL cases.


METHODS
The study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of Kyung Hee University Hospital.


METHODS
The subjects analyzed were 17 patients with refractory SSHL of more than 3 weeks after a failed trial of conventional treatment including corticosteroids.


METHODS
Acupuncture sessions were performed twice a week using a modified Saam acupuncture formula and such acupoints as GV14, GV15, and others, in addition to usual patient care educations.


METHODS
Improvement was defined as increased hearing threshold from initial measurement by more than 20 dB in at least two contiguous frequencies of audiometric testing. An audiogram pattern was also analyzed.


RESULTS
The average refractory period before acupuncture treatment was 213.9 days (range 22-1460). First follow-up measurement after 9.5 times of acupuncture treatment for 29.9 days showed improvement in 4 of 16 cases examined (25.0%) and second follow-up measurement after 18.7 times of acupuncture treatment for 70.4 days in another 4 of 12 cases examined (33.3%). A total improvement rate after day 70.4 post initial visit was 47.1% (8 of 17 cases). As to the audiogram pattern, an ascending or midhumping pattern was related to a good prognosis, while a descending pattern was not.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that acupuncture might be effective in refractory sensorineural hearing loss with failure of conventional therapy.
Yin
Chang Shik
CS
Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Park
Hi-Joon
HJ
Nam
Hae Jeong
HJ
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000628:therapy*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055815:Young Adult