A Case Study: Effects of Foot Reflexotherapy in an Infant with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensoryneuronal hearing loss (SNHL) is one type of hearing impairment. The incidence of hearing loss (HL) is 1-3 per 1000 births. Complementary therapies may be effective in addressing the maladies of infants with HL. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of foot reflexotherapy in an infant with SNHL. The patient was a 3-month-old infant with SNHL. Pretest and post-test for HL were conducted using an audiologic method (auditory brainstem responses) combined with behavioral audiometry. The subject was treated with foot reflexotherapy for 30 min per session four times per week for a period of 24 weeks. Foot reflexotherapy was effective in auditory recuperation of an infant with SNHL. The results of this novel study suggest that foot reflexotherapy can be an effective complementary treatment for infants with SNHL, especially for those 3 to 9 months of age.