Effect of foot reflexology on an infant with sensorineural hearing loss: A case report

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v12.i8.1437

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World Journal of Clinical Cases

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Case Report

World J Clin Cases. Mar 16, 2024; 12(8): 1437-1441
Published online Mar 16, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i8.1437

Effect of foot reflexology on an infant with sensorineural hearing loss: A case report

Yu-Jun Lee, Mao-Qing Chen, Jie Dong

Yu-Jun Lee, Graduate School, Xi'an International Studies University; North Sichuan Medical University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China

Yu-Jun Lee, Department of Neural Disease, North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong 635200, Sichuan Province, China

Mao-Qing Chen, Department of Nursing, North Sichuan Medical University, Nachong 635200, Sichuan Province, China

Jie Dong, Key Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Neuroscience of Language, Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an 710128, Shaanxi Province, China

Author contributions: Lee YJ designed the case report; Chen MQ collected the data; Dong J performed data analysis.

Supported by Graduate Student Project of Xi’an International Studies University, No. 2021BS012; and Nanchong City-Universities Project, No. 22SXCXTD0004.

Informed consent statement: Consent was obtained from the parents of the girl for the publication of this report.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.

CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to CARE Checklist (2016).

Corresponding author: Jie Dong, PhD, Lecturer, Key Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Neuroscience of Language, Xi’an International Studies University, No. 1 Wenwan Nanlu, Xi’an 710128, Shaanxi Province, China. jiedong@xisu.edu.cn

Received: October 16, 2023
Peer-review started: October 16, 2023
First decision: January 2, 2024
Revised: January 15, 2024
Accepted: February 18, 2024
Article in press: February 18, 2024
Published online: March 16, 2024
Processing time: 147 Days and 14.3 Hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Our study contributes to the further understanding of the mechanism of foot reflexology. Foot reflexology has been reported to affect hearing recovery, but no physiological evidence has been provided. This lack of evidence hampers the acceptance of the technique in clinical practice.

CASE SUMMARY

A girl was taken to North Sichuan Medical University Affiliated Hospital for a hearing screen by her parents. Her parents reported that her hearing level was the same as when she was born. The girl was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) by a doctor in the otolaryngology department. After we introduced the foot reflexology project, the parents agreed to participate in the experiment. After 6 months of foot reflexology treatment, the hearing threshold of the girl recovered to a normal level, below 30 dB.

CONCLUSION

Foot reflexology should be encouraged in clinical practice and for families of infants with SNHL.

Keywords: Infant with sensorineural hearing loss; Foot reflexology; Functional connectivity; Language development; Case report

Core Tip: Foot reflexology has been found to aid the recovery of hearing ability in infants with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Previous studies have shown that foot reflexology can affect fatigue, sleep, and pain. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report that foot reflexology can improve the hearing ability of infants with SNHL and provide physiological evidence of how foot reflexology affects hearing ability through analysis of functional connectivity of the brain.