Is Electroacupuncture Treatment More Effective in Somatic Tinnitus Than in Nonsomatic Tinnitus?

Abstract

Background: In recent years, evidence has been accumulating linking subjective tinnitus to the somatosensory system. Somatic tinnitus is defined as tinnitus in which forceful contractions of jaw and neck muscles modulate the psychoacoustic attributes of tinnitus, such as pitch and loudness. Being a somatosensory-based treatment modality, needling might well be more effective for treating somatic than nonsomatic tinnitus. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment between patients with somatic and nonsomatic tinnitus. Materials and Methods: A single-blinded prospective study was carried wherein 27 patients with tinnitus were divided into either a somatic or a nonsomatic group, based on whether their tinnitus could be modulated by at least one of a series of forceful jaw and neck muscular contraction maneuvers. Tinnitus responses were evaluated after a single session of EA on selected acupoints for 30 minutes. Results: Seventeen of the 27 patients (63.0%) studied were found to have somatic tinnitus. Generalized estimating equation model analysis did not find any overall statistically significant difference in EA response between patients with somatic and nonsomatic tinnitus. However, patients with somatic tinnitus who were consistent in their responses to the muscular contraction maneuvers were more likely to improve with EA than variable responders to these maneuvers (62.5% versus 22.0%). Conclusions: EA did not provide increased benefits for patients with somatic tinnitus, compared to those with nonsomatic tinnitus overall. However, within the somatic tinnitus group, a subpopulation of patients appeared to be relatively more responsive to EA treatment.

Analysis of Factors Influencing the Efficiency of Acupuncture in Tinnitus Patients

“…Since May 2012, the department of Chinese Medicine had set an acupuncture protocol with two different acupoint combinations for patients with tinnitus. This protocol was established in accordance with standard textbooks, previous research on acupuncture, and the experience of clinical acupuncturists [25]. One group had four periauricular acupoints (PA group), and the other group had four periauricular acupoints plus distal acupoints (PADA group).…”

Effects of Manual Therapy in Somatic Tinnitus Patients Associated with Cervicogenic and Temporomandibular Dysfunction Domain: Systematic Review and Meta Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

“…Somatic or somato-sensory tinnitus attributes to the disorders of cervical spine or temporo-mandibular region [3] which can modulate the pitch and loudness in tinnitus patients [7]. Its prevalence is 36-43% of the Belgian population along with subjective tinnitus patients [3].…”

Efficacy of manual therapy on somatic tinnitus dual modulatory factors: a study protocol

“…O zumbido afeta de 20,7% a 24,2% da população geral e de 10% a 15% da população adulta, o que prejudica a qualidade de vida dos paciente [2][3][4] . Zumbido somático ou somatosensorial atribuído a distúrbios da coluna cervical ou região temporo-mandibular 2 que pode modular o pitch e a intensidade em pacientes com zumbido 5 . Sua prevalência é de 36% a 43% da população belga, juntamente com pacientes com zumbido subjetivo 2 .…”

“…Sua prevalência é de 36% a 43% da população belga, juntamente com pacientes com zumbido subjetivo 2 . O transtorno somatogênico acaba sendo altamente prevalente em pacientes com zumbido 5 . A prevalência de zumbido somático cervicogênico é de 43% 3 e os distúrbios temporomandibulares são de 64% em pacientes com zumbido crônico 2 .…”

“…A prevalência de zumbido somático cervicogênico é de 43% 3 e os distúrbios temporomandibulares são de 64% em pacientes com zumbido crônico 2 . que é mais comum em pacientes com pulpagia dentária 5 .…”