Sudden hearing loss is an emergency in otolaryngology that requires diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. The golden treatment period is two weeks since the onset of the disease. However, modern medicine is still unable to fully understand the causes of the disease and in lack of corresponding effective treatments. Current therapies also have their own limitations and side effects. To find an effective and safe treatment, integrating with modern medicine and providing inpatient and outpatient medical care, is an important issue in clinical care. Traditional Chinese medicine has been clinically utilized for a long time with accumulated empirical experience and evidence for its efficacy. It can be used as an alternative therapeutic option for sudden hearing loss. Being with a long period of clinical experience and evidence-based curative effect, acupuncture could be applied as an adjunctive treatment for the sudden hearing loss. Currently, this patient-centered, pragmatic clinical trial compares the effectiveness of using west medicine、combination of west medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. The aim of this study is to explore acceptable and beneficial strategy to reduce the clinical symptoms, to improve quality of life, and decrease medical expenses.
Patients newly diagnosed with sudden deafness were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to two groups: a Western medicine group and an integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment group. Each group included 32 patients, for a total of 64 patients. Treatment lasted four weeks, starting from the date of admission, and included both inpatient and outpatient care. Western Medicine Treatment: During hospitalization, intravenous steroids were administered. After discharge, oral steroids were administered. For patients who did not respond well to treatment, intratympanic steroid injections were performed. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment: Acupuncture was performed once daily for 30 minutes at acupoints around the ear and upper limb on the same side as the affected ear. Six treatment sessions were performed in the first and second weeks, and two sessions were performed in the third and fourth weeks. Primary Outcome: Pure-tone audiograms were performed at baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 4. Secondary Outcome: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Dizziness Handicap Inventory were performed at baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 4. Blood biochemistry tests were performed at baseline. Adverse events were recorded throughout the trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
64
Treatment lasted four weeks, starting from the date of admission, and included both inpatient and outpatient care. Western Medicine Treatment : During hospitalization, intravenous steroids were administered. After discharge, oral steroids were administered. For patients who did not respond well to treatment, intratympanic steroid injections were performed. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment : Acupuncture was performed on peri-auricular and ipsilateral upper limb points, including Ermen (TE21), Tinggong (SI19), Tinghui (GB2), Shuaigu (GB8), Yifeng (TE17), Waiguan (TE5), and Zhongzhu (TE3). The treatment was administered once daily for 30 minutes. During the first and second weeks, a total of six sessions were carried out, followed by two sessions per week in the third and fourth weeks.
Treatment lasted four weeks, starting from the date of admission, and included both inpatient and outpatient care. Western Medicine Treatment : During hospitalization, intravenous steroids were administered. After discharge, oral steroids were administered. For patients who did not respond well to treatment, intratympanic steroid injections were performed.
China Medical University Hospital
Taichung, Taiwan
RECRUITINGPure-tone audiograms
Changes from baseline to week 1, week 2, and week 4 of the intervention
Time frame: baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 4
Tinnitus Handicap Inventory
Changes from baseline to week 1, week 2, and week 4 of intervention
Time frame: baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 4
Dizziness Handicap Inventory
Changes from baseline to week 1, week 2, and week 4 of intervention
Time frame: baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 4
Blood examination
neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)
Time frame: baseline
Laboratory examination
inflammatory cytokine test (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α)
Time frame: baseline
Adverse events
Adverse events related to steroid or acupuncture therapy were recorded throughout the trial.
Time frame: baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 4
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