Demystifying Labyrinthitis

People tend to think they have labyrinthitis if they experience occasional bouts of dizziness or vertigo. While they can be associated with this condition, which affects the vestibular system, diagnosing labyrinthitis is much more complex.

When Things Spin Out of Control

Labyrinthitis is the inflammation of the inner ear, or labyrinth. It’s quite rare and mainly affects people between the ages of 30 and 60, both men and women. The main symptom of labyrinthitis is rotary vertigo. It makes you feel like the environment around you is spinning, for a continuous period of two to three weeks. Because labyrinthitis is generally the result of a viral infection, there is no specific treatment for it. However, certain medications can be prescribed to ease symptoms (ex.: antivirals or corticosteroids). Also, the body produces antibodies while healing. This means that if you have labyrinthitis once, you’re unlikely to experience it again.

In addition to dizziness, labyrinthitis causes tinnitus due to the inflammation of the inner ear. People affected by the disease also experience hearing loss.

Regaining Balance

While it isn’t possible to prevent labyrinthitis and no specific cure is currently known, healthcare professionals can provide vestibular rehabilitation therapy to shorten the duration of symptoms and help people get back to their lives quicker. The therapy consists mainly of balance retraining through eye and neck exercises. Small head and body movements can help reduce the feeling of being off-balance.

Meniere’s Disease: What’s the Difference?

Like labyrinthitis, Meniere’s disease is mainly characterized by vertigo and dizziness. However, the episodes are more sudden, lasting from a few dozen minutes to several hours. Between episodes, the symptoms can disappear for several months or even years. This chronic disease is not caused by a virus, but rather is the result of an abnormal amount of fluid in the inner ear (endolymph).

Don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare professional to learn more about these ear conditions.

Brigitte Sauvageau Audiologist practicing in Montreal