Comparative clinical study on the efficacy of Karnapooran and Nasya with Eranda Shigruvadi Taila along with Ghritpana in the management of Karna Badhirya with special reference to Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Ear is considered as one of the navadwars in ayurveda that provide two main functions i.e. hearing (detects and analyzes sound by transduction) and equilibrium (maintain the sense of balance). There are various diseases affecting the ears. Badhirya is one mentioned in ancient text. Acharya Sushrata has mentioned it as a disease entity under 28 Karnarogas, Acharya Charak included it under the 80 nanatmaja vatavikaras, Acharya Vagbhatta has described Badhirya under 25 karnarogas.

As per Acharya Sushruta when vata gets lodged in shabdavahasira (voice conducting channels) owing to obstacle imposed (margavarodha) by the vitiated kapha, there is manifestation of the disease called Badhirya. The effected person is unable to hear the voice made in the surrounding partially or completely depending on the intensity of the vitiation of the particulars body humors.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) refers to hearing impairment resulting from organic disorders of cochlea (sensory type) or the auditory nerve (8th nerve) and its central connection in brain stem (neural type). The term retro-cochlear is used when hearing loss is due to lesion of the 8th nerve and central deafness when it is due to lesions of central auditory connections.