New Research Published in 2026 Suggests That Acupuncture May Enhance Hearing Recovery When Combined with Conventional Medical Treatment

Have you noticed that sounds seem muffled, conversations are becoming harder to understand, or ringing in your ears is interfering with your daily life? Hearing difficulties can affect communication, emotional well-being, sleep, and overall quality of life.

For people experiencing sudden hearing loss, timely treatment is particularly important. In addition to conventional medical care, acupuncture may offer a complementary treatment option worth discussing with your healthcare provider.

A randomized controlled clinical trial published in QJM: An International Journal of Medicine on February 13, 2026, provides encouraging evidence that acupuncture may improve treatment outcomes for patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss when used alongside intratympanic dexamethasone, a corticosteroid medication administered into the middle ear.

What Is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a rapid decline in hearing, typically affecting one ear. It may develop over several hours or within a few days and can occur without an obvious cause.

Common symptoms include:

A sudden reduction in hearing in one ear

Muffled sounds or difficulty understanding speech

Ringing, buzzing, or other noises in the ear (tinnitus)

A sensation of fullness or pressure in the affected ear

Dizziness or balance disturbances in some cases

SSNHL is considered a medical emergency because delayed evaluation and treatment may reduce the opportunity for hearing recovery.

Important: If you experience sudden hearing loss, seek urgent medical evaluation from an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or emergency medical service. Do not delay medical treatment to try acupuncture or wait for symptoms to improve on their own.

New Clinical Research: Acupuncture May Enhance Hearing Recovery

A research team involving Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Fudan University-affiliated Eye and ENT Hospital conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate acupuncture as an additional treatment for SSNHL.

The study was published in QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Study reference:

Yang Y, Cao Y, Kong X, Zhao Y, Ji H, Dong Y, et al. Acupuncture combined with intratympanic dexamethasone for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a randomized controlled trial. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine. Published February 13, 2026. DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcag021.

Read the original publication: https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article-abstract/119/8/602/8483060

How Was the Study Conducted?

Researchers enrolled adults aged 18–65 with sudden, unexplained hearing loss affecting one ear. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Acupuncture group: Real acupuncture combined with intratympanic dexamethasone.

Control group: Sham acupuncture combined with the same intratympanic dexamethasone treatment.

The acupuncture group received four treatments per week for one to two weeks, for a total of four to eight sessions.

Researchers evaluated hearing thresholds, speech recognition, tinnitus-related difficulties, quality of life, anxiety, depression, and treatment safety.

This study design is important because both groups received the same medical treatment, allowing researchers to investigate the additional benefit associated with real acupuncture.

Three Encouraging Findings From the Study

1. Greater Improvement in Hearing Thresholds

At the two-week assessment, the real-acupuncture group showed significantly greater improvement in pure-tone average hearing thresholds than the sham-acupuncture group.

The difference in hearing improvement between the groups was approximately 9.03 decibels (dB), with a reported p-value of 0.011. The advantage remained evident at the six-week follow-up.

The benefit was particularly apparent at low and middle frequencies, while the study did not find a significant between-group difference at high frequencies.

These findings suggest that acupuncture may enhance hearing recovery when added to intratympanic steroid treatment in appropriately selected patients.

It is important to understand that this result represents the difference between the two study groups. It does not mean every patient will gain 9 dB of hearing, nor does it guarantee complete recovery.

2. Improved Speech Recognition and Reduced Tinnitus-Related Distress

Hearing is not simply about detecting sounds. Being able to understand conversations is equally important for everyday life.

Compared with the sham-acupuncture group, participants receiving real acupuncture demonstrated significantly better speech recognition scores at one week, two weeks, and six weeks.

The real-acupuncture group also experienced greater improvements in tinnitus-related difficulties at the two-week and six-week assessments.

For patients who struggle to follow conversations or feel distressed by persistent ringing in the ears, these findings offer another reason to consider acupuncture as a complementary option alongside appropriate medical care.

3. Encouraging Findings in Patients With Very Severe Hearing Loss

The study’s subgroup analysis found a greater hearing improvement in the real-acupuncture group among participants with extremely severe hearing loss. The between-group difference was approximately 12.67 dB, with a reported p-value of 0.002.

This finding is promising, but subgroup results should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in larger studies. Severe hearing loss should always be managed by an ENT specialist.

The trial also reported a generally favorable safety profile, with adverse events including transient dizziness and fainting associated with acupuncture. As with any treatment, individual risks and precautions should be assessed before beginning care.

How Might Acupuncture Support Patients With Hearing Loss?

Traditional Chinese medicine has long used acupuncture to address symptoms involving the ears, tinnitus, and associated discomfort. Treatment plans may incorporate local points around the ear and additional points selected according to the patient’s overall presentation.

**In the clinical trial, the acupuncture protocol included points such as:

SI19 — Tinggong (听宫): Located in front of the ear.

GB2 — Tinghui (听会): Located near the ear opening.

TE21 — Ermen (耳门): Located in front of the ear.

TE17 — Yifeng (翳风): Located behind the earlobe.

GB20 — Fengchi (风池): Located at the back of the neck.

TE5 — Waiguan (外关), TE3 — Zhongzhu (中渚), KI3 — Taixi (太溪), LR3 — Taichong (太冲), and GV20 — Baihui (百会): Additional points included in the study protocol.**

The researchers used a standardized acupuncture protocol, including electroacupuncture at selected points, before administering intratympanic dexamethasone.

These points illustrate the approach used in the study; they should not be interpreted as a universal prescription for every patient. A qualified acupuncturist should individualize treatment according to the patient’s needs, medical history, and clinical circumstances.

Although the clinical results are encouraging, the precise biological mechanisms responsible for the observed benefits are not yet fully established. Further research is needed to determine how acupuncture may contribute to hearing recovery.

Who May Consider Acupuncture?

Acupuncture may be worth discussing with a healthcare provider for people who:

Have recently developed sudden sensorineural hearing loss and are receiving appropriate medical treatment.

Experience tinnitus alongside hearing loss.

Continue to experience hearing-related difficulties while under ENT care.

Want to explore complementary approaches to support their overall well-being during recovery.

However, the 2026 trial specifically investigated sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Its results should not automatically be applied to age-related hearing loss, chronic hearing impairment, noise-induced hearing damage, conductive hearing loss, or hearing loss caused by other medical conditions.

The evidence from this single-center trial is promising, but additional multicenter studies with larger patient populations and longer follow-up periods are needed.

Why Timing Matters: Do Not Wait to Seek Treatment

If you have experienced a sudden change in hearing, prompt medical assessment is essential. An ENT specialist can evaluate the cause, arrange a hearing test, and determine whether treatments such as corticosteroids are appropriate.

Acupuncture should be considered only as a complementary approach, not a substitute for medical diagnosis or evidence-based treatment. It should not delay steroid treatment or other care recommended by your physician.

For people with gradual hearing loss, a comprehensive evaluation can help determine whether the cause is related to earwax, middle-ear problems, damage to the inner ear, medication effects, or another condition. The appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Explore Acupuncture as Part of a Comprehensive Hearing-Care Plan

At TCM FIT, we believe in an individualized approach to care that considers each patient’s symptoms, health history, and treatment goals.

For patients experiencing hearing-related concerns, acupuncture may be considered as part of a coordinated care plan in consultation with their medical providers. We can discuss your symptoms, review relevant medical information, and determine whether acupuncture may be an appropriate complementary option for you.

Our goal is to help patients make informed decisions and explore supportive care while maintaining appropriate medical treatment.

Are you experiencing tinnitus or hearing difficulties?

Contact TCM FIT to discuss whether acupuncture may be suitable as part of your overall care plan.

Please note: Acupuncture is not a proven cure for hearing loss and cannot guarantee hearing recovery. The study described above evaluated acupuncture in combination with intratympanic dexamethasone for sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Individual outcomes vary, and prompt medical evaluation remains essential.

Reference: Yang Y, Cao Y, Kong X, Zhao Y, Ji H, Dong Y, et al. Acupuncture combined with intratympanic dexamethasone for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a randomized controlled trial. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine. 2026. DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcag021.

Learn more about acupuncture at TCM FIT: Website: www.tcmfit.com Email: info@tcmfit.com

This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your oncology team.