In a paper published in the journal Medical Acupuncture, the authors concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients with severe chronic subjective tinnitus. They said that patient complaints, decreased beginning at the second treatment week; however, in the third post-treatment month, the complaints reappeared. So, they determined that maintenance acupuncture therapy is necessary for patients with tinnitus. ~ Dr. Broussard
Acupuncture Treatment in Patients with Chronic Subjective Tinnitus: A Prospective, Randomized Study
Medical Acupuncture
Ihsan Kuzucu and Onur Karaca
Published Online:3 Jan 2020
https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2019.1367
Abstract
Objective: This study investigated the effect, onset, duration of action, and short-term outcomes of acupuncture therapy for treating patients with severe chronic subjective tinnitus.
Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial evaluated patients with chronic, idiopathic, and severe tinnitus. A total of 105 participants were divided into 2 groups using a randomization method: a study group who received verum acupuncture therapy (n = 53) and a sham acupuncture group (n = 52). Ten acupuncture sessions were given over 5 weeks. After treatment, each participant was monitored for up to 3 months according to changes on a visual analogue Scale (VAS), and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and Pure-Tone Audiometry and Speech Discrimination (Interacoustics AC-40, Denmark) scores.
Results: The VAS and THI scores were evaluated. A statistically significant difference was noted between the sham and verum acupuncture groups at post-treatment follow-up (P < 0.001). Decreases in the THI and VAS scores became significant in the second week of treatment (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), but these scores increased again in the third month post-treatment (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).
Conclusions: Acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients with severe chronic subjective tinnitus. Patient complaints, decreased beginning at the second treatment week; however, in the third post-treatment month, the complaints reappeared. Maintenance acupuncture therapy is necessary for patients with tinnitus; this approach should be investigated in future studies.