Labyrinthitis is an inner ear condition that leads to inflammation, often resulting in dizziness, vertigo, and sometimes temporary hearing loss. This disorder typically stems from viral infections and can disrupt balance. Treatment varies from medications to balance exercises, aimed at managing symptoms and improving overall stability. Learn more about labyrinthitis, its causes, and treatment options in this post.
Imagine an assembly line dedicated to creating a machine. As the frame of the machine comes down the line, workers perform specific tasks, adding specialized pieces to assemble a complete product. With everyone performing their role, the system runs successfully and creates a useful product. But what happens if one worker steps away? Suddenly, with no one to take care of their role, crucial pieces aren’t put in place, resulting in a malfunctioning machine.
This is just one example of an interconnected system, where success relies on individual pieces working together. In truth, it’s not far off from how the systems in our bodies work to get us through the day. One of these connected systems is hearing and balance, which helps us orient ourselves and maintain our equilibrium. In this delicate system, a disruption can lead to a health condition like labyrinthitis, which can affect our daily lives as well as ear health and overall wellness.
A quick description of labyrinthitis (pronounced “lab-uh-rinth-itis”) might make it sound simple: inflammation of the inner ear and the nerves that connect the area to the brain. But this condition isn’t just an itchy ear or an earache—it can manifest in multiple symptoms that disrupt your health and wellbeing. Labyrinthitis takes its maze-like name from the part of your ear called the labyrinth, which plays an essential part in the anatomical process of hearing.
Under normal circumstances, sound waves enter the outer part of the ear and move through the ear canal to hit the outer layer of the eardrum. This causes the eardrum and three small bones inside the middle ear to vibrate. These vibrations are then amplified to the inner ear, where they travel through the fluid in the cochlea and move tiny hair cells located inside. The movement of the hair cells creates electrical signals that travel along the auditory nerve to the hearing center in the brain, where they are interpreted as sounds.
The hair cells and the fluid canals (Semi-Circular Canals) around them in the inner ear also help you maintain your sense of balance, letting your brain know which direction you’re facing as the fluid moves. All these nerves and organs form the intricate system of the labyrinth.
Labyrinthitis occurs when the nerves within the inner ear become infected, causing irritation and swelling. This inflammation disrupts the system, leading to discomfort in the ear, as well as disturbance in your hearing and balance. This comes from your brain trying to make sense of the signals that don’t match between a healthy labyrinth and an infected one. Think of the adage of “trying to fit a square peg into a round hole”: the brain is attempting to send information through the hearing center, but the inflammation makes receiving those signals almost impossible.
The most common labyrinthitis symptoms stem from this mismatch of information going to the brain. This means labyrinthitis symptoms come and go as the brain processes sound and can vary in severity. People dealing with the condition usually report that symptoms start suddenly and progress as the day goes on. Symptoms include:
Another condition that can be a symptom of labyrinthitis is anxiety. The fear of having a dizzy spell, combined with vertigo and worries about falling in public, can create overwhelming anxiety, fear, and depression. This negative feedback loop can exacerbate the already difficult experience of the inner ear condition.
A connection is often drawn between labyrinthitis and another inner ear condition called vestibular neuritis because both have symptoms related to balance and hearing issues. While there are many similarities, the location of the inflammation is the key to understanding labyrinthitis vs. vestibular neuritis.
Labyrinthitis refers to the swelling of both the vestibular and the cochlear areas of the vestibulocochlear nerve, which affects balance and hearing. Vestibular neuritis, on the other hand, deals with the swelling of only the vestibular part of the vestibulocochlear nerve, which affects balance. The differences may be slight, but knowing the difference between the two can mean a better understanding of how to best treat your symptoms.
Inflammation of the labyrinth is most commonly caused by viral infections, but bacteria can also cause it. The most common causes of labyrinthitis include:
While infections are generally the root of most cases of labyrinthitis, behaviors that weaken the immune system can trigger the condition. If you smoke, experience extra stress, drink alcohol excessively, or have a history of allergies, you may be at a higher risk of developing viral labyrinthitis. In some cases, certain drugs such as antidepressants, anti-inflammatories, and some diabetes medications can also prompt labyrinthitis in some individuals.
Because of its connection to illnesses and these numerous risk factors, people dealing with this condition may ask themselves, “Is labyrinthitis contagious?” Luckily, labyrinthitis isn’t contagious, but you might catch a cold or the flu from someone else, and that could weaken your immune system and potentially trigger labyrinthitis.
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When dealing with symptoms like vertigo and tinnitus, people with labyrinthitis might ask a simple but urgent question: How long does labyrinthitis last? The answer is that it depends on the cause and severity, but most cases of labyrinthitis resolve within six weeks, with many people feeling better in one to two weeks with proper treatment.
However, if your symptoms don’t resolve in that amount of time, consult your doctor. Persistent symptoms can be a sign of chronic labyrinthitis and may require additional therapy to treat. Don’t wait for symptoms to get worse—treating your inner ear issues promptly can reduce the possibility that your condition will turn into a long-term problem, like permanent hearing loss or chronic vertigo.
The ability to diagnose labyrinthitis depends greatly on the symptoms you’re experiencing. Labyrinthitis can be tricky to catch at first because several other conditions present the same symptoms.
If you develop acute labyrinthitis symptoms that affect your daily life, such as vertigo, nausea, balance issues, or hearing loss, make an appointment with your doctor right away to develop a treatment plan. Your healthcare provider will ask you questions; assess your hearing, balance, and other nervous system functions; and potentially run tests to rule out other problems. These tests can include:
Once you receive an official diagnosis, labyrinthitis treatment will depend on the root cause of your condition. If it stems from a virus, you may be prescribed antiviral medications. If it comes from bacteria, you’ll likely take an antibiotic.
Corticosteroids or antihistamines (which can reduce nerve inflammation) are sometimes prescribed as labyrinthitis medications, along with medicines to control dizziness or nausea. While they won’t solve causes like viral infections, hearing aids can be a useful tool in combating symptoms of labyrinthitis. If you’re struggling with dizziness or loss of balance, clearly processing sound through your hearing aids can help you better navigate your environment and maintain stability to avoid falls.
While medications can be a great tool for managing labyrinthitis symptoms, there are several do’s and don’ts to take note of:
One of the best ways to care for your ears and prevent hearing problems is to get them properly examined by a hearing professional. Find your nearest Miracle-Ear store to get started on your journey to better hearing.
Labyrinthitis, as discussed above, is inflammation caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Meniere’s disease, on the other hand, is a disease that affects both the cochlea and vestibular system. While symptoms are similar—dizziness/vertigo, ear pressure, tinnitus, and hearing loss—the outcome is very different. Labyrinthitis can be treated with medication, and when properly treated, it lasts anywhere from several days to weeks. In contrast, while Meniere’s disease can be somewhat managed with medication and diet, it has no cure and is considered a chronic condition.
Despite its various triggers and risk factors, ear health conditions like labyrinthitis don’t have to be intimidating or overwhelming. Understanding how health conditions can affect your body’s interconnected systems allows you to identify solutions that protect your ear health and avoid discomfort.
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