P. Sze 
This article discusses 8 quick and easy acupressure points for hearing loss, including sudden deafness, and better hearing.
Can Acupuncture Help With Hearing Loss?
Yes, a study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine concluded that acupuncture therapy can significantly improve the hearing of patients with nerve deafness, and the efficacy of acupuncture in combination with medication is superior to medication alone.
This study included a metanalysis of 12 studies of randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and side effects between acupuncture and conventional medicine. This included 527 patients and overall, the study found that acupuncture was more effective than conventional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine separately. It also found that adding acupuncture to conventional western medication and traditional Chinese medicine was better than either treatment alone.
Can Acupuncture Cure Hearing Loss?
In western medicine, scientists are still studying drugs to treat hearing loss. The main treatments are hearing aids and cochlear implants. Though these can help, they’re not a cure.
However, a study found that electroacupuncture may be a useful additional therapy in unilateral Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), even at the late phase when other treatments have failed. SNHL is an inner ear condition that is described as an acute unilateral hearing loss within three days accompanied by tinnitus and occasional vertigo.
Therefore, there are some cases where acupuncture can result in complete recovery after a form of acupuncture treatment. A number of acupuncture points for hearing loss were used.
Another study evaluated acupuncture as a primary and independent treatment in the acute phases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), which is an ontological emergency defined as a rapid hearing loss. In this case, the patient’s symptoms and outcome measurements improved every week and she was completely recovered after the last week. This study followed only one patient and the results were based on self-reports, but there are trends indicating positive results for acupuncture treatment.
Should I Try Acupuncture For Sudden Hearing Loss?
A study in SAGE Open Medical Case Reports concluded that acupuncture may be worth trying in patients with sudden neurosensory deafness, who do not respond to routine medical treatment.
Even in China, SSHL is the second most debilitating disease. Current treatment is limited to hearing aids, assistive devices, and cochlear implants. This case study evaluated a patient who failed with conventional treatment but saw improvement with electro-acupuncture therapy according to pure tone audiometry findings and clinical responses.
For Hearing Loss
Acupoint: TE-17 (Other Names: Triple Energizer-17/Yi Feng/Wind Screen)
TE-17 is located posterior to the lobule of the ear, in the depression between the angle of the mandible and the mastoid process.
In addition to being one of the great acupressure points for hearing loss, it is indicated for wry face, swelling of the cheek, scrofula, and toothache. It is one of the most beneficial TMJ acupressure points.
It functions by dispelling Wind, benefiting the head, face, and ears, clearing Heat, activating the meridian, and alleviating pain.
Acupoint: TE-21 (Other Names: Triple Energizer-21/Er Men/Ear Gate)
TE-21 is located on the face, in the depression anterior to the supra-tragus notch and on the posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible.
As one of the great acupressure points for hearing loss, it is indicated for tinnitus, deafness, otitis media, and toothache. It is one of the great eustachian tube pressure points.
It functions by benefiting the ears, clearing Heat, and alleviating pain.
Acupoint: GB-20 (Other Names: Gallbladder-20/Feng Chi/Wind Pool)
GB-20 is located on the nape of the neck, below the occiput, in the depression between the upper portion of the sternocleidomastoideus and trapezius muscles.
In addition to being one of the great acupressure points for eyes and acupressure points for hearing loss, it is indicated for the common cold, nasal congestion, and headache.
It functions by dispelling exterior and interior Wind, clearing the head, benefitting the eyes, nose, and ears, subduing Liver Yang, activating the meridian, and relieving pain. It is an important point to treat any Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat pattern.
For Sudden Deafness
Acupoint: TE-3 (Other Names: Triple Energizer-3/Zhong Zhu/Central Islet)
TE-3 is located on the dorsum of the hand, in the depression between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones, proximal to the 4th metacarpophalangeal joint.
It is indicated for gastric pain, abdominal distention and pain, and diarrhea. It is also one of the most useful acupressure points for trigger finger.
It functions by strengthening the Spleen, harmonizing and regulating the Spleen and Stomach, resolving dampness, and clearing Damp-Heat.
Acupoint: LI-4 (Other Names: Large Intestine-4/He Gu/Joining Valley)
As one of the great acupressure points in hand for hearing loss, LI-4 is located on the dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones, in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.
It is indicated for diseases of the head and face, aversion to cold, fever, and febrile disease. It can be used in conjunction with LIV-3 to strongly move the qi and blood in the body to remove stagnation and alleviate pain. While the SP-5 acupuncture point detoxifies the spleen, LI-4 detoxifies the lungs.
It functions by expelling Wind and releasing the exterior, tonifying qi and strengthening immunity, stopping pain, regulating the face and head area, and inducing labor.
Acupoint: TE-5 (Other Names: Triple Energizer-5/Wai Guan/Outer Pass)
TE-5 is located on the dorsal aspect of the forearm, on the line connecting SJ 4 and the tip of the elbow, 2 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist between the ulna and radius.
In addition to being one of the great acupressure points for earache, it is indicated for febrile disease, headache, redness, and pain and swelling of the eye.
It functions by dispelling Wind-Heart, releasing the exterior, benefitting the ears, activating the meridian, and alleviating pain.
Acupoint: LI-11 (Other Names: Large Intestine-11/Qu Chi/Pool at the Crook)
LI-11 is located with the elbow flexed, on the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease, at the midpoint between LU-5 and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
In addition to being one of the best acupressure points for high blood pressure, LI-11 is indicated for all febrile diseases, fever, and sore throat.
It functions by clearing Heat, cooling Blood, resolving dampness, expelling exterior Wind, regulating Qi and blood, activating the meridian, and relieving itching.
For Better Hearing
Acupoint: GB-11 (Other Names: Gallbladder-11/Tou Qiao Yin/Yin Portals of the Head)
GB-11 is located on the head, posterior to the auricle, posterior and superior to the mastoid process, at the junction of the middle 1/3 and lower 1/3 of the arc connecting GB 9 and GB 12.
It is one of the best acupressure points for better hearing and is indicated for headache, tinnitus, deafness, and ear pain.
It functions by clearing the head, activating the meridian, and relieving pain.
