Treatment of tinnitus with electrical stimulation on acupoint in the distribution area of ear vagus nerve combining with sound masking: randomized controlled trial

• Published in: World journal of acupuncture-moxibustion 2014-06, Vol.24 (2), p.30-35
• Main Authors: MEI, Zhi-gang, YANG, Song-bai, CAI, San-jin, LEI, Hua-ping, ZHOU, Chuang, Guo, Yu-hui, MA, Wen-han, ZHANG, Ding-qi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acupuncture/auricular acupuncture; randomized controlled trial; tinnitus; vagus nerve stimulation
• ISSN: 1003-5257
• DOI: 10.1016/S1003-5257(14)60022-2

To observe the efficacy of treating tinnitus with electrical stimulation on acupoint in the distribution area of ear vagus nerve by combining with sound masking. Sixty-three volunteers suffering from tinnitus were randomly divided into a treatment group (32 cases) and a control group (31 cases) according to envelope method. The treatment group was given the treatment with electrical stimulation on acupoint in the distribution area of ear vagus nerve by combining with sound masking while the control group was given the treatment by taking flunarizine hydrochloride capsules and oryzanol orally. The treatment for both groups lasted for eight weeks. The efficacy was evaluated before treatment, 4 weeks and 8 weeks following the treatment respectively according to “Tinnitus Handicap Inventory” and “Tinnitus Dysphoria Inventory”. It was revealed from the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory that the differences were not statistically significant by comparing the two groups after treatment for 4 weeks (χ2=1.981, P=0.16); After 8 weeks of the treatment, patients with mild tinnitus and severe tinnitus were significantly improved in the treatment group compared with those before treatment (χ2=25.01, P