Acupuncture Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18 and 70 years;
• Meets the diagnostic criteria for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL): sudden, unexplained sensorineural hearing loss occurring within 72 hours, with a hearing threshold decrease of ≥30 dB in at least three consecutive frequencies among 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz (reference: previous audiologic examination or same frequencies of the contralateral ear);
• Unilateral SSNHL with self-perceived symmetrical hearing in both ears prior to the current episode (or supported by previous audiologic examination reports);
• Time from symptom onset to enrollment and treatment initiation within 14 days;
• Clear consciousness and logical responses, able to understand the scale items and complete the assessments;
• Agrees to participate in the trial and signs a written informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Identifiable definite etiology after complete examination, including acoustic neuroma, cerebrovascular accident, trauma, Hunt syndrome, etc.;
• History of hearing abnormality (affected ear) or balance dysfunction prior to the current episode (including previous SSNHL, vestibular migraine, Meniere's disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, congenital/hereditary/syphilitic hearing loss, otosclerosis, etc.);
• Presence of diseases for which systemic corticosteroid therapy is clinically not recommended (e.g., poorly controlled or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, history of peptic ulcer, active infection or tuberculosis, history of hepatitis B or C, pancreatitis, severe osteoporosis, osteonecrosis, etc.);
• Received systemic or local corticosteroid therapy for 10 days or more prior to enrollment;
• Presence of other diseases (e.g., severe skin disorders) that preclude completion of acupuncture treatment;
• Presence of severe organ dysfunction;
• Received acupuncture treatment within the past 12 months;
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women;
• Other reasons deemed by the investigator as unsuitable for participation in this clinical study (e.g., high anticipated difficulty in completing follow-up, obvious low compliance, etc.).