Ayurvedic Intervention in Pediatric Sensorineural Hearing Loss (Badhirya): A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a type of hearing impairment typically associated with aging, where the pathology lies in the inner ear or the vestibulocochlear nerve. It might be congenital or acquired. Pediatric SNHL is comparatively rare, and even more so when linked to allergic etiologies. Hearing loss is associated with Badhriya (~deafness) in Ayurveda and one among the Karnaroga. Clinical findings: This case describes 15year old girl presented with symptoms such as partial hearing loss, tinnitus and ear pain over a period of 5 months. The underlying etiology was associated with Allergic Rhinitis, a rare but clinically significant contributor to SNHL in children. She was diagnosed with SNHL in March, 2025.  Interventions: Ayurvedic treatment commenced with procedures viz Nasya (~nasal therapy), Karnapoorana (~auricular oil therapy), Matrabasti (~oil enema) are given for 23 days and Ayurvedic medicaments viz Pathyadi Kvatha, Triphala Guggulu and Sudarshan Ghanvati for 23 days and follow up medicaments for 28 days. Outcome: Pure tone Audiometry (PTA) showed significant improvement in hearing threshold. The right ear improved from a mean of 33 dB (mild hearing loss) to 17.5 (Normal sensitivity) dB indicating approximately 46.9% improvement. The left ear improved from a mean of 80 dB (severe hearing loss) to 22.5 dB (mild hearing loss), showing approximately 71.8 % improvement. Symptomatic relief was evident, with tinnitus reduced from 6 to 2 and ear pain score reduced from 7 to 3 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Conclusion: This case highlights rare association of pediatric SNHL with allergic rhinitis and demonstrates that individualized Ayurvedic management, including therapeutic procedures and medications leads to clinical and audiometric improvement. Improvements were supported by clinical findings and PTA reports with sustained benefits and no adverse effects observed during treatment and follow up.