OBJECTIVETo observe the effect differences among the comprehensive therapy, acupuncture and oral mecobalamine for senile sensorineural hearing loss.

METHODSA total of 126 senile sensorineural hearing loss patients were randomized into a comprehensive group, an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 42 cases in each group. After removing and discontinuing cases, 40 cases in each group were included in the analysis. Acupuncture, acupoint injection and auricular point pressing were used in the comprehensive group. Acupuncture for 2 courses was at the affected Tinggong (SI 19), Tinghui (GB 2), Yifeng (TE 17), etc, once every other day, 10 times as a course with one week rest between 2 courses, 3 times a week. Acupuncture as the comprehensive group was applied in the acupuncture group. Mecobalamin tablet was prescribed orally for 2 courses in the western medication group, 3 times a day, 0.5 mg a time, 3 weeks as a course, one week at the interval. Pure tone hearing threshold value and tinnitus grading were observed before and after intervention in the three groups. The clinical effects were compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, pure tone hearing threshold value and tinnitus grading were better than those before treatment in the three groups (all <0.05), with better results in the comprehensive group than those in the other two groups (all <0.05). The total effective rate of pure tone hearing threshold value was 82.5% (33/40) in the comprehensive group, which was superior to 67.0% (27/40) in the acupuncture group and 62.5% (25/40) in the western medication group (both <0.05). The total effective rate of tinnitus was 83.3% (30/36) in the comprehensive group, which was superior to 69.7% (23/33) in the acupuncture group and 57.1% (20/35) in the western medication group (both <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effects of comprehensive therapy on senile sensorineural hearing loss are superior to those of simple acupuncture and oral administration of mecobalamin in terms of pure tone hearing threshold value and tinnitus grading.