Acupuncture helps hearing loss Various reports from as far back as the 1940s claim acupuncture has cured deafness, sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) and tinnitus. When looking at the clinical evidence, though, the results are more muddled. Authors of research published in the February 2015 issue of International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine reviewed 12 studies to determine “the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating sensorineural hearing loss.” They concluded that acupuncture can improve hearing in some patients with sensorineural hearing loss, especially when combined with medication. However, due to the small sample study and lack of data assessing safety, the authors recommend further study. Also worth keeping in mind is that the studies were conducted in China, where medicine is practiced differently than in the U.S. Lastly and perhaps most importantly: Because the treatment was often used in conjunction with medication or herbal remedies,