Oriental Medical Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

돌발성 난청의 한방치료

  • Nam, Hae-Jeong (Department of Oriental Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
  • Published : 2009.07.31

Abstract

Objectives: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is considered an ENT emergency. Despite being a well-recognized condition, SSHL remains one of the most controversial issues in otology. Nowadays, more and more patients have an interest in Oriental medicine for treatment of SSHL. So, to ascertain the therapeutic effect of Oriental Medicine on SSHL, nineteen cases of SSHL patients who had taken Oriental medical therapy in Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Hospital were examined and analyzed. Methods: Nineteen patients who received over 10 times acupuncture therapy and a minimum 2 weeks of herbal medicine from Sep. 1, 2007 to Aug. 31, 2008 were examined and analyzed. The patients who were in the categories below were excluded: - within 7 days after onset - didn't fulfill 10 times acupuncture therapy - failed to recheck hearing outcome after treatment - less than 30dB at mean dB from 250Hz${\sim}$4000Hz. Results: The patients consisted of 12 men and 7 women with a mean age of 45.63 years (19${\sim}$76). Before treatment, 17 patients had tinnitus, 16 patients had pressure in the ear and 6 patients had dizziness, and mean dB of all patients was 66.89 dB. After treatment, 9 patients still had tinnitus, 4 patients felt pressure in the ear and 2 patents felt dizziness, and mean dB of all patients was 54.57dB. After treatment, 9 patients showed effectiveness in improving both hearing level and speech discrimination, 6 patients showed effectiveness only on speech discrimination and 4 patients showed no therapeutic effect. Conclusion: Oriental medical therapy had some therapeutic effects on SSHL even it was started 7 days after onset of the disease.

Keywords

References

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