Acupuncture-related therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: clinical efficacy and central mechanistic insights

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common otolaryngological emergency, but its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Although acupuncture has recently become widely used as a complementary therapy for SSNHL in clinical practice, a comprehensive review of its central mechanisms is still lacking. Based on literature from 2020 to 2025 in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data (Wanfang), this narrative review synthesizes the latest research into the central mechanisms of acupuncture-related treatment for SSNHL, focusing on three key areas: auditory pathway plasticity, activation of the emotional regulation network, and functional integration of neurovascular units. Preliminary evidence suggests that acupuncture-related therapy may promote hearing recovery and alleviate associated symptoms via multiple target pathways. The proposed central mechanisms include modulation of functional connectivity in the temporal auditory cortex, regulation of limbic-subcortical emotional pathways, and enhancement of neurovascular coupling. This review provides a theoretical basis for a deeper understanding of the potential roles of acupuncture-related treatment in SSNHL, although further rigorous studies are needed to confirm these mechanistic links.