Acupuncture effect on neurosensory deafness

Bilateral neurosensory deafness offers a unique opportunity to study the effects of acupuncture objectively. By treating only one ear, and using audiometric evaluation techniques instead of subjective evaluations of hearing, an analysis of any achieved improvement seemed feasible. Only patients with well documented bilateral nerve deafness were accepted into the program. A baseline audiogram with speech discrimination and puretone air and bone conduction thresholds was obtained prior to treatment. Thirty-eight patients underwent ten consecutive acupuncture treatments on one ear only, with the other ear serving as a control. After the course of acupuncture, the audiometrics were repeated by the same audiologist. There was no significant increase in hearing after acupuncture therapy.