Labyrinthitis
This is the most common term used by patients to express their vertigo. Patients often supersede the terms vertigo and dizziness by the word labyrinthitis. Labyrinthitis is a diagnosis: it is not a symptom.
Labyrinthitis is like a neuronitis / vestibular neuritis but with associated cochlear symptoms. The patient suffers from intense vertigo and hearing loss on the affected side. Then labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear. There are several possible causes for labyrinthitis, but often the main cause is difficult to identify. It may be associated with a viral infection like the flu or a cold or, rarely, a bacterial infection such as an infection of the middle ear.
The vertigo lasts for several days and the symptoms of instability gradually drop. While hearing loss is often permanent.
Physical examination shows high intensity nystagmus beating to the opposite side of the lesion and a hearing impairment.
The audiogram confirms the sensorineural hearing loss.
The VNG shows a unilateral vestibular paresis on the same side of the hearing loss. If the VNG does not show vestibular deficit, we must go further in the investigation to rule out other pathology. Ask one of our ENT!
As in the case of vestibular neuritis, after the acute phase of labyrinthitis, vestibular rehabilitation may be necessary for the central vestibular compensation. At the Polyclinique Centre-Ville, adult and pediatric vestibular physiotherapists are specialized in this field. They can themselves monitor your treatment using goggles connected to the computer to verify your nystagmus.
As for the hearing loss, a hearing aid may be a useful substitute. Ask the ENT, the audiologist or a hearing care professional.
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Anatomy and Function of the labyrinthe
Definition
Do you have vertigo? An imbalance?
Benin Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Meniere’s disease
Neuronitis or vestibular neuritis
Labyrinthitis
Dehiscence of the superior canal
Cervical dizziness
Perilymphatic fistula
Migraine and vertigo / Vestibular Migraine
Basilar migraine and vertigo
Vertigo of central origin
Psychogenic vertigo
Vertebrobasilar insufficiency and imbalance