Acupuncture Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (NCT07575334) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Acupuncture Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
China256 participantsStarted 2026-04-13
Plain-language summary
The goal of this multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with corticosteroid therapy in treating sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does acupuncture combined with corticosteroids improve hearing recovery (pure tone audiometry, PTA) at 8 weeks compared with sham acupuncture combined with corticosteroids? Does this treatment improve secondary outcomes, including tinnitus, dizziness, sleep quality, anxiety, and quality of life? Researchers will compare acupuncture (experimental group) with sham acupuncture (control group) to determine the added therapeutic effect of acupuncture.
Participants will:
1. Receive either real acupuncture or sham acupuncture 3 times per week for 4 weeks.
2. Meanwhile, take oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day, maximum 60 mg/day) for 7 days followed by a 7-day taper.
3. Undergo hearing tests (PTA, word recognition scores), vestibular function tests, and complete validated questionnaires (SF-36, HADS, ISI, DHI, THI, and TCM symptom scales) at baseline and weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12.
4. Receive salvage intratympanic steroid injections if hearing does not improve sufficiently by day 14.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 70 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age between 18 and 70 years;
* Meets the diagnostic criteria for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL): sudden, unexplained sensorineural hearing loss occurring within 72 hours, with a hearing threshold decrease of ≥30 dB in at least three consecutive frequencies among 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz (reference: previous audiologic examination or same frequencies of the contralateral ear);
* Unilateral SSNHL with self-perceived symmetrical hearing in both ears prior to the current episode (or supported by previous audiologic examination reports);
* Time from symptom onset to enrollment and treatment initiation within 14 days;
* Clear consciousness and logical responses, able to understand the scale items and complete the assessments;
* Agrees to participate in the trial and signs a written informed consent form.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Identifiable definite etiology after complete examination, including acoustic neuroma, cerebrovascular accident, trauma, Hunt syndrome, etc.;
* History of hearing abnormality (affected ear) or balance dysfunction prior to the current episode (including previous SSNHL, vestibular migraine, Meniere's disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, congenital/hereditary/syphilitic hearing loss, otosclerosis, etc.);
* Presence of diseases for which systemic corticosteroid therapy is clinically not recommended (e.g., poorly controlled or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, history of peptic ulcer, active infection …
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.