Abstract
SummaryThe treatment of tinnitus is still a challenge. Acupuncture is recommended for the relief of tinnitus in traditional Chinese Medicine, although scientific evidence is lacking. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acupuncture on the cochlear function in patients with tinnitus by analyzing otoacoustic emissions. Methods: Thirty eight patients with tinnitus were included in the prospective clinical study. Measures of transitory otoacoustic emissions and suppression of otoacoustic emissions were obtained from all subjects before and after acupuncture. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: intervention group 1 (n=19), in which needle acupuncture was applied at the temporoparietal point corresponding to the vestibulocochlear area, and intervention group 2 (n=19), in which the needle was applied 3cm cranially to this area (which is not a recognized acupuncture point). Results: There was a significant difference between the amplitude of otoacoustic emissions assessed before and after acupuncture in intervention group 1. No difference was observed in intervention group 2. Conclusion: Acupuncture had a significant effect on otoacoustic emissions in patients with tinnitus.
Highlights
Tinnitus is defined as a sensation of sound perceived by a person regardless of an external stimulus
In the intervention 2 group there was no statistically significant difference in otoacoustic emissions (OAE) before and after the acupuncture session (p = 0.5882); in other words, in the intervention 2 group emissions before the acupuncture session did not differ from emissions after the session
In the intervention 2 group there was no statistically significant difference in OAE before and after the acupuncture session (p = 0.9644), in other words, in the intervention 2 group emissions before the acupuncture session did not differ from emissions after the session
Summary
Tinnitus is defined as a sensation of sound perceived by a person regardless of an external stimulus. Most of the models have suggested some form of cochlear dysfunction.[6,7,8,9] The hypothesis of discordant damage suggests that tinnitus is generated on the portion of the basilar membrane where there is preservation of inner hair cells (IHC) but damaged or temporarily dysfunctional outer hair cells (OHC) This theory may explain the occurrence of tinnitus in normal hearing individuals, as diffuse damage of up to 30% of OHC can occur without any associated detectable hearing loss.[6] Another theory is that there would be reduced efferent inhibition in areas where IHC are damaged. Active basilar membrane areas would increase, causing tinnitus.[7]
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