Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis
What are Labyrinthitis and Vestibular neuritis?
Labyrinthitis is an infection that affects the vestibular organ, which is a part of the inner ear that provides the brain with information about movement, head position and spatial orientation. Vestibular neuritis is an infection of the nerve that connect the vestibular organ to the brain (the vestibular nerve).
The infection in labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis is thought to be viral and can sometimes come on after a viral infection of the gut or upper respiratory tract (nose/mouth/throat). We have two vestibular organs, one in each ear, which work in sync with each other and need to be in balance for normal function. In labyrinthitis/vestibular neuritis, the infection impairs the conduction of signals through the vestibular nerve and upsets the balance between the two vestibular organs.
What are the symptoms of Labyrinthitis/Vestibular Neuritis?
Because the communication from the vestibular organ is impaired, a person with labyrinthitis/vestibular neuritis will experience a sensation of spinning or rotation, as the balance between the two vestibular organs has been disturbed. This symptom of rotation is called vertigo and is usually constant for the initial 48-72 hours of the condition. In addition to this, a person with labyrinthitis/vestibular neuritis will also feel unbalanced and may have difficulty maintaining their vision on objects around them. These symptoms occur because the vestibular organ plays an important role in maintaining our balance and keeping our vision stable.
After this initial 48-72-hour period, the severe symptoms begin to settle but the person will have ongoing dizziness and unsteadiness that is aggravated by movements of the head.
How is labyrinthitis/vestibular neuritis diagnosed?
Within the clinic, there are a series of tests that a vestibular physiotherapist will use to look for evidence of labyrinthitis/vestibular neuritis. These include impairments in the way that the eyes move in response to head movements, as well as deficiencies in balance. In many cases, if the condition is suspected, a patient will benefit from further testing within a specialist audiology service. Tests that help to confirm a person has had labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis include caloric tests and video head impulse testing.
How is Labyrinthitis/Vestibular Neuritis treated?
In the initial stages, while the symptoms are severe, the focus is on confirming the diagnosis and allowing the worst of the vertigo to settle. During this time the patient will often be prescribed medications by their doctor to suppress the vestibular system and reduce the nausea.
After the initial few days, the patient is started on a series of rehabilitation exercises that encourage the vestibular system to recover. These exercises are progressed over the course of several weeks while the patient is monitored carefully to track improvement and assess for any changes in their condition.
The exercise program generally consists of progressive balance and head movement exercises, which are scientifically proven to speed the recovery of this condition.
As a general guide, the rehabilitation process takes approximately 3 to 4 weeks until the patient has improved enough to resume most of their normal activities and 6 to 12 weeks until the patient no longer has any symptoms.
Our vestibular physiotherapist Justin has undergone extensive training in the rehabilitation of dizziness and balance conditions including labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis.
If you would like to ask Justin a question about this condition or anything else, visit our Contact Us page to get in touch.
If you are ready to make an appointment, visit our make a booking page and let us help you with your recovery.
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If you are ready to make an appointment, visit our make a booking page and let us help you with your fitness or recovery.