Six Cases of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

돌발성난청 환자 치험 6례

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be defined as a severe loss of hearing occurring within a short space of time without any obvious cause. Its etiology is not verified yet, treatment and prognosis are uncertain. Objectives: We reviewed 6 cases of patients who hospitalized in Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center Dept. of Otolaryngology. Using the criteria of Siegel and Research Team of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan, We are to evaluate the effect of Herb medication, Acupuncture therapy, and Negative therapy. We also attempted to search effective methods of therapy of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: We treated them with Oyaksunki-san(烏藥順氣散) for softening qi-stagnation and supressing 'Wind'(順氣治風), Chungsimjihwang-tang(淸心地黃湯) for strengthening 'Heart' and 'Kidney'(補心益腎), Boikyangwi-tang(補益養胃湯) for strengthening 'Wi-qi' and 'Stomach'(補衛(胃)氣). We also used acupuncture therapy and negative therapy based on the textbook of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Results: One patient recovered completely after 5 days therapy, two patient markedly, another two patient slightly and one patient had no improvement. Conclusions: To treat sudden hearing loss, we can use Oyaksunki-san(烏藥順氣散) in the early stage of the disease. We can treat with Chungsimjihwang-tang(淸心地黃湯) and Boikyangwi-tang(補益養胃湯) in the late period of the disease, and administer Jaeumgenby-tang(滋蔭健脾湯) for suppressing tinnitus. If there is evidence of viral infection and the patient have too severe hearing loss, We can also use steroid in combination with Herb medication in the early stage of the disease. The Western medicine demonstrated that the start time of treatment had influence on recovery. If we started Oriental medical treatment within a week from the onset of sudden deafness. we will obtain the desired results. As the Western medical treatment does, Oriental medical therapy may have no effect after one month from onset of the disease.