OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture on late sudden deafness of different types.

METHODSAccording to the principles of TCM syndrome differentiation treatment, 63 cases were treated with acupuncture, once very other day, 7 days constituting one course with a interval of 3 days between two courses. Changes of the hearing threshold, and the difference of therapeutic effects between different states of illness and different types were investigated.

RESULTSFour cases (6.3%) were cured, 17 cases (27.0%) were markedly effective, 19 cases (30.2%) were effective, and 23 cases (36.5%) were ineffective, the total effective rate being 63.5%; there was a significant difference in the mean hearing threshold before and after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe milder the state of illness, the better the therapeutic effect of the acupuncture; in addition, acupuncture has the best therapeutic effect for the type with decrease of the curve of audition, and better therapeutic effects for the types of upward invasion of phlegm-heat, and the type of stagnation of turbid phlegm in the middle-jiao.