Recurrent sudden sensorineural hearing loss in a 58-year-old woman with severe dizziness: a case report

A case of recurrent sudden sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear is presented. The patient was a 58-year-old Chinese woman with profound hearing loss, a feeling of fullness in the ear, vomiting and severe dizziness for 2 months. A head scan and MRI of the brain and neck showed no cause for the symptoms. The ear, nose and throat specialist diagnosed a microcirculatory dysfunction, rejecting the diagnosis of Meniere's disease. The patient did not respond to medical treatment and after 2 months attended for acupuncture. It was suspected that the severe dizziness was associated with her neck and back pain. Daily electroacupuncture treatments to her ear, back and neck were given. After 1 month the dizziness was significantly reduced and the hearing loss recovered to a good level. The patient's symptoms recurred after exposure to cold and strong wind and again recovered with acupuncture. She later suffered a third recurrence of severe dizziness which again responded to acupuncture.