Combining acupuncture with steroid therapy for sudden hearing loss
Official title: Effectiveness of Integrative Medical Treatment in Sudden Hearing Loss
Run by China Medical University Hospital · NCT07235488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether adding acupuncture to standard steroid treatment helps adults with sudden sensorineural hearing loss recover hearing.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 64 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | China Medical University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Taichung) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 8, 2024 |
| Main results expected | May 20, 2026 |
| Study ends | June 20, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | November 19, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07235488 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18 or older with new-onset (within two weeks) sudden sensorineural hearing loss meeting the >30 dB/3-frequency criteria who can consent and attend inpatient and outpatient visits are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with central nervous system lesions, middle ear or retrocochlear pathology, prior otologic surgery, bleeding disorders, severe psychiatric/cognitive impairment, or recent treatment for the same ear are unlikely to benefit or are excluded.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Newly diagnosed adults with sudden sensorineural hearing loss were randomized 1:1 to receive either standard Western medicine (intravenous then oral steroids, with intratympanic rescue if needed) or integrated care combining the same steroid regimen plus a defined acupuncture course. Sixty-four patients were treated over four weeks with both inpatient and outpatient visits. Hearing was measured with pure-tone audiograms at baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 4, while tinnitus and dizziness were tracked with validated questionnaires and safety monitored with blood tests and adverse event reporting. The acupuncture protocol consisted of daily 30-minute sessions around the ear and upper limb concentrated in the first two weeks and tapered in weeks three and four.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding acupuncture could improve the rate or degree of hearing recovery and reduce tinnitus or dizziness compared with steroids alone.
How similar studies have gone: Some small trials and case series have suggested benefit from acupuncture as an adjunct for sudden hearing loss, but overall evidence is mixed and not definitive.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years, both male and female. * Meeting the diagnostic criteria for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), defined as hearing loss of \>30 dB affecting at least three consecutive frequencies within 3 days. * Newly onset of hearing loss within 2 week. * Fully understanding the purpose and procedures of the study and providing signed informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Central nervous system lesions such as vestibular schwannoma or traumatic brain injury. * Middle ear or retrocochlear pathology. * History of otologic surgery. * Hemorrhagic disorders or coagulation abnormalities. * Inability to cooperate with examinations due to dementia or psychiatric illness. * Previous treatment for SSNHL on the same affected side within the past 6 months.
Where it's running
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China Medical University Hospital
Taichung, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ming-Cheng Huang, M.D., Ph.D.
- Email: mchuang1128@gmail.com
- Phone: +886-4-22052121 Ext. 14561
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Yiyuancong treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss
This trial will test whether adding Yiyuancong, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, to standard care helps adults with sudden sensorineural hearing loss recover more hearing.
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Hydroxychloroquine added to steroids for sudden hearing loss
This trial tests whether adding hydroxychloroquine to standard steroid treatment helps improve hearing in adults with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
-
Cohort of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss
This study is tracking patients with sudden hearing loss to see how well different treatments help them recover over time.
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Exploring the effects of positive airway pressure on sudden hearing loss and sleep apnea
This study is testing if using positive airway pressure therapy can help people with sudden hearing loss and sleep apnea feel better.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.