Can severe sudden hearing loss improve with acupuncture treatment?

I received steroid IV drips and intratympanic steroid injections for sudden hearing loss, but my hearing has not recovered. Can acupuncture improve my condition?

R.K., Chiba Prefecture

It must be very distressing to see no improvement after steroid treatment.

Since acupuncture approaches the issue from a different angle than medical doctors, there is a possibility that hearing can recover, even in cases of severe sudden hearing loss where one ear is completely deaf (scale-out).

*In the case of our clinic, hearing recovery was observed in about 30-40% of patients who were in a "scale-out" state.

The sooner acupuncture treatment begins, the more effective it is, so please consider it as soon as possible. Even a slight return of hearing can prevent atrophy of the auditory nerve and help prevent unpleasant symptoms such as tinnitus.

Minako Yoshiike, Vice-Director

Improvement in "Scale-out" (Profound Hearing Loss) in the Right Ear

This is the audiogram of a patient whose hearing in the right ear did not return even during hospitalization, resulting in a "scale-out" (off the chart) reading across all frequencies. Although the patient felt intense anxiety at the time, through 8 acupuncture sessions, the scale-out condition improved.

At our clinic, after carefully checking the condition of the whole body, we propose "tailor-made" treatments suited to each individual patient. Even if hearing recovery was not seen with medical treatment alone, there are cases where the possibility of improvement remains. If you feel "it might be too difficult now," please consult us once.

Before Treatment

Sudden hearing loss with total deafness in one ear | Audiogram (Before)

After Treatment

Sudden hearing loss with total deafness in one ear | Audiogram (After)

*Treatment results may vary among individuals.

Patient Testimonials

M.S.Niigata Prefecture

Sudden hearing loss starting with dizziness

I was able to return to work

I continued acupuncture for immunity and hearing recovery along with sound therapy. The unpleasant tinnitus subsided, and I started to understand the direction of sounds! I am full of gratitude as I could return to work.
S.K.Nagano City

Aftereffects of sudden hearing loss

Sounds no longer resonate in my head

After losing hearing in one ear, the sound of hammering nails started resonating in my head. It was so bad I considered retiring from carpentry, but it got much better with acupuncture and sound therapy using CDs.
T.Y.Gunma Prefecture

Recruitment phenomenon caused by sudden hearing loss

The resonance has settled down

The sound of dishes scraping or supermarket registers resonated in my head, and I felt like I was going mentally crazy. Since I started visiting the clinic, it has managed to settle down, so I will try to hang in there a bit longer.

*"Patient Testimonials" are personal impressions.
Treatment methods and outcomes vary depending on the disease.
Since the root causes of ailments vary by person, we perform a full-body examination before proposing a treatment plan suited to that patient.
If you have any questions or concerns, please consult us via the "Free Consultation Now" button.

Severe Sudden Hearing Loss

Degrees of Sudden Hearing Loss Symptoms

The severity of sudden hearing loss is classified into Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Profound, depending on the degree of hearing decline.

・Mild (Under 30-40dB)... Difficulty hearing soft sounds.
・Moderate (Under 40-60dB)... Difficulty hearing daily conversation or home appliances.
・Severe (60dB to under 90dB)... Difficulty hearing even loud noises like trains.
・Profound (Over 90dB)... Cannot hear even loud sounds right next to the ear.

In particular, sudden hearing loss that begins with strong rotational vertigo often progresses to the Severe or Profound levels. In such cases, the condition may have spread from the cochlea to the vestibular nerve, and hearing may not recover as hoped even with steroid treatment.

However, by starting acupuncture treatment as early as possible after onset, there are cases where hearing gradually recovers. Just because the diagnosis is "Profound" does not mean that all possibility is lost immediately. Precisely because it is an anxious situation, please consult us as early as possible.

Why Caution is Needed Regarding "Bilateral Hearing Loss"

The risk of bilateral hearing loss increases with time

Even if you treat the symptoms of the affected ear alone, if the root cause is not addressed, the other ear may also develop sudden hearing loss due to the same underlying factors.

Furthermore, since you begin to rely on one ear to hear sounds normally processed by two, the increased burden and stress on the functioning ear can lead to a gradual decline in its hearing.

The risk of hearing decline in the "good ear" tends to increase as more time passes since the initial onset. Therefore, undergoing acupuncture treatment for hearing recovery at an early stage is an effective way to prevent bilateral hearing loss.

Acupuncture Treatment Aiming to Improve Physical Constitution

Acupuncture to Treat "Infarction-Prone Constitution"

At our clinic, we believe that sudden hearing loss may be triggered by a physical constitution that is prone to strokes (cerebral infarction) or heart attacks (myocardial infarction)—what we call an "infarction-prone constitution." In fact, some medical doctors refer to sudden hearing loss as "ear infarction."

People with an infarction-prone constitution often exhibit physical characteristics such as low calf temperatures and poor peripheral blood flow. By using medical thermography to examine temperature distribution anomalies and cardiovascular ultrasound to check blood flow conditions, we can determine if a patient has this specific constitution.

Before Treatment

Sudden hearing loss with total deafness in one ear | Poor blood flow in calves (Before acupuncture)

After Treatment

Sudden hearing loss with total deafness in one ear | Improved blood flow in calves (After acupuncture)

*Performing acupuncture to improve the physical constitution enhances the body's natural healing power, often creating a physical state where sudden hearing loss is more likely to recover.

Detailed Hearing Tests to Analyze Hearing Ability

In addition to selecting acupuncture points to improve the infarction-prone constitution based on a full-body examination, we conduct hearing tests using a wide frequency range to check if you can "distinguish sounds." We also perform treatment designed to prevent the good ear from deteriorating.

Furthermore, poor eardrum movement or eustachian tube dysfunction can sometimes cause persistent hearing difficulties. Therefore, we also conduct tests to check the movement of the eardrum and investigate the detailed condition of your ears.

: Hearing Test

: Test to check eardrum movement

Options If Hearing Does Not Fully Recover

Rehabilitating the Ear and Brain with Sound Therapy

Performing sound therapy alongside acupuncture often helps reduce symptoms like tinnitus and aural fullness (blocked ear sensation), improves the ability to identify sound direction, and aids in hearing recovery.

Our sound therapy involves modifying Mozart's music to match the patient's hearing level and training them to distinguish between the sounds of the violin, viola, and cello. Even if one ear has total hearing loss, this therapy serves as training to process monaural sound entering the good ear as "stereo" within the brain. As a result, some patients regain the ability to hear conversations in noisy crowds.

: Creating a Sound Therapy CD

: Sound Therapy

About Our Clinic

We are an acupuncture and orthopedic clinic located in Suzaka, Nagano Prefecture.

Acupuncturists and Staff at Moriue Acupuncture and Orthopedic Clinic

We perform full-body examinations using hearing tests, medical thermography, cardiovascular ultrasound, and Moiré topography to address sudden hearing loss from its root cause through acupuncture treatment.

Quickly Identifying the Cause

6 Examinations at an Acupuncture Clinic Specializing in ENT

Hearing Test (Audiometry)

We check the condition of bone and air conduction across a wide frequency range to confirm if you can "distinguish sounds." This helps us select the acupuncture points that will maximize the treatment's effect.
Eustachian Tube Function Test

Using the only testing equipment of its kind available in Japan, we check for Eustachian tube dysfunction and utilize the findings for acupuncture treatment to improve hearing.
Eardrum and Middle Ear Test

We check the movement of the eardrum and the air pressure in the middle ear. The results are used to guide acupuncture treatment for aftereffects of otitis media or facial nerve paralysis.
Body Distortion

Curvature of the neck compresses the vertebral artery and worsens blood flow to the brain and inner ear. We confirm this using Moiré topography and perform acupuncture to correct the alignment.
Blood Flow Abnormalities

A decline in the body's natural healing power can be identified through blood flow abnormalities. We use cardiovascular ultrasound to check the condition of the limbs and neck, performing acupuncture to improve circulation.
Stress State

Stress that hinders recovery manifests in body surface temperature. We check this using medical thermography and perform acupuncture to balance the autonomic nervous system.