The International Tinnitus Journal

Effect of Korean Medicine on Tinnitus with Hearing Loss: A Case Series

Hye-Yeong Kang*

Objective: This study describes the clinical effects of treatment with Korean medicine on patients with tinnitus accompanied by hearing loss. Methods: Three patients with tinnitus who had not received conventional medical treatment were treated at Sejong Korean Medicine Clinic in Seoul, Korea. The interventions included acupuncture, acupotomy of the suboccipital and cervical muscles, cervical/thoracic vertebrae, and TE-17 (Yifeng) near the styloid process along with herbal pharmacopuncture. Additional treatments included acupuncture stimulation of the nasal mucosa, cranial rhythmic impulse technique, Chuna manual therapy for spinal balance, auditory rehabilitation training, and sound-based brain stabilization therapy. The outcomes were evaluated using Pure-Tone Audiometry (PTA) and Minimum Masking Level (MML) test. Results: All three patients showed clear improvement in PTA thresholds and a reduction in tinnitus severity as assessed by MML test. Conclusion: Korean medicine may provide an effective complementary therapeutic option for managing tinnitus with hearing loss, particularly when conventional medical treatments are limited.