What are the main causes of vertigo related to inner ear infections. How can you distinguish between labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis. What are the most effective treatment options for vertigo caused by inner ear infections.

Understanding the Anatomy of the Ear and Its Role in Balance

The human ear is a complex organ divided into three distinct areas: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Each part plays a crucial role in our ability to hear and maintain balance:

• Outer Ear: Collects sound waves from the environment
• Middle Ear: Conducts, amplifies, and relays sound to the inner ear
• Inner Ear: Converts sound signals and sends them to the brain, while also housing our balance functions

The inner ear contains the vestibular system, which is responsible for our sense of balance and spatial orientation. When this delicate system is disrupted by an infection, it can lead to vertigo and other balance-related issues.

The Connection Between Inner Ear Infections and Vertigo

While most ear infections affect the middle ear, in some cases, the infection can progress to the inner ear. This progression can result in two main conditions that cause vertigo: labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis.

How Do Infections Reach the Inner Ear?

Typically, inner ear infections occur as a complication of upper respiratory tract infections, colds, or flu. Bacteria or viruses can travel from the lungs and throat into the ear canal, which is connected to our throat for drainage purposes. From there, the pathogens can make their way into the inner ear, causing inflammation and disrupting the delicate balance mechanisms.

Labyrinthitis vs. Vestibular Neuritis: Key Differences and Similarities

Both labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are vestibular disorders caused by inflammation in the inner ear. However, they affect different parts of the inner ear system:

• Vestibular Neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve only
• Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of both the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve

Common Symptoms of Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis

Both conditions share several symptoms, including:

• Sudden vertigo attacks
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Imbalance

The main difference between the two conditions lies in their impact on hearing. Labyrinthitis often causes additional symptoms such as hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) due to the involvement of the cochlear nerve. Vestibular neuritis, on the other hand, typically does not affect hearing.

Recognizing the Signs of an Inner Ear Infection

Identifying an inner ear infection can be challenging, as the symptoms may overlap with other conditions. However, there are several key indicators to watch for:

• Persistent vertigo or dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of balance or unsteadiness
• Difficulty focusing or tracking objects with your eyes
• Hearing changes (in cases of labyrinthitis)
• Ear pain or fullness

If you experience these symptoms, especially if they occur alongside or following an upper respiratory infection, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Inner Ear Infections Causing Vertigo

Diagnosing inner ear infections that cause vertigo typically involves a combination of physical examination, medical history review, and specialized tests. Otolaryngologists (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctors) or Vestibular Specialists are best equipped to identify and treat these conditions.

Diagnostic Procedures

• Physical examination of the ear
• Balance and coordination tests
• Hearing tests (audiometry)
• Eye movement tests (nystagmography)
• Imaging studies (CT or MRI scans) to rule out other causes

Treatment Approaches

Treatment for inner ear infections causing vertigo typically focuses on managing symptoms and supporting the body’s natural healing process. Options may include:

• Medications to reduce inflammation and manage vertigo symptoms
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises to improve balance and reduce dizziness
• Antiviral medications (in cases of viral infections)
• Rest and hydration to support recovery
• Dietary modifications to reduce symptoms (e.g., limiting salt, caffeine, and alcohol intake)

In most cases, inner ear infections resolve on their own within 1-3 weeks. However, vestibular rehabilitation may be necessary to address lingering symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance.

The Role of Vestibular Rehabilitation in Recovery

Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of physical therapy designed to alleviate symptoms of vertigo and balance disorders. This therapy can be particularly beneficial for patients recovering from inner ear infections.

Key Components of Vestibular Rehabilitation

• Gaze stabilization exercises
• Balance training
• Habituation exercises
• Canalith repositioning maneuvers (for certain types of vertigo)
• Postural control exercises

A vestibular rehabilitation program is typically tailored to the individual patient’s needs and may evolve as symptoms improve. The goal is to retrain the brain to compensate for the disrupted vestibular function and improve overall balance and stability.

Preventing Inner Ear Infections and Recurring Vertigo

While it’s not always possible to prevent inner ear infections, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and minimize the likelihood of recurring vertigo:

• Practice good hygiene to prevent upper respiratory infections
• Stay up to date on vaccinations, particularly for influenza
• Manage allergies effectively to reduce inflammation in the ear and nasal passages
• Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke
• Protect your ears from excessive noise and trauma
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet

If you have a history of inner ear infections or vertigo, working closely with a healthcare provider to develop a personalized prevention plan can be beneficial.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Vertigo Symptoms

While many cases of vertigo related to inner ear infections resolve on their own, there are situations where immediate medical attention is necessary. Seek help if you experience:

• Severe, persistent vertigo that interferes with daily activities
• Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears
• High fever accompanying vertigo symptoms
• Severe headache or neck pain
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Weakness or numbness in any part of your body

These symptoms could indicate a more serious underlying condition and require prompt evaluation by a medical professional.

Living with Chronic Vestibular Disorders

For some individuals, inner ear infections can lead to chronic vestibular disorders. Managing these long-term conditions requires a multifaceted approach:

Strategies for Coping with Chronic Vestibular Issues

• Ongoing vestibular rehabilitation
• Lifestyle modifications to minimize triggers
• Stress management techniques
• Support groups and counseling
• Regular follow-ups with vestibular specialists

Living with a chronic vestibular disorder can be challenging, but with proper management and support, many individuals are able to maintain a good quality of life and continue their daily activities.

Advances in Research and Treatment of Vestibular Disorders

The field of vestibular research is continually evolving, with new insights and treatment options emerging regularly. Some areas of ongoing research include:

• Gene therapy for vestibular disorders
• Improved diagnostic techniques using advanced imaging
• Development of more targeted medications for vertigo symptoms
• Virtual reality applications in vestibular rehabilitation
• Vestibular implants for severe balance disorders

These advancements offer hope for improved diagnosis, treatment, and management of inner ear infections and related vestibular disorders in the future.

Understanding the complexities of inner ear infections and their relationship to vertigo is crucial for effective management and treatment. By recognizing the symptoms early, seeking appropriate medical care, and engaging in proper rehabilitation, individuals affected by these conditions can often achieve significant improvement in their symptoms and overall quality of life. As research continues to advance our understanding of vestibular disorders, we can look forward to even more effective treatments and management strategies in the years to come.

Inner Ear Infection Causing Vertigo?

Spotting an ear infection isn’t difficult. The ear is a sensitive area, which means infections are painful and disruptive. But when the symptoms of your ear infection also include vertigo or some sort of imbalance, the infection likely progressed to your inner ear. Inner ear infections and vertigo are the results of two conditions: Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis.

How does an infection reach the inner ear?

Inner Ear Infection and Vertigo

There are three distinct areas of the ear: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. The three parts work in miraculous unison creating our sense of hearing and our sense of balance.

The functions of each part of the ear:

• Outer Ear – collects sound waves.
• Middle Ear – conducts, amplifies, and relays sound to the inner ear.
• Inner Ear – converts these sound signals and sends them to the auditory parts of the brain, along with housing our balance functions.

The majority of ear infections affect the middle ear (the space right behind your eardrum). Bacteria or viruses cause inflammation in the middle ear, preventing fluids from being drained in/out of the ear. Thus, the inflammation causes pain.

But in some cases, the infection progresses past the middle ear and into the inner ear.

Because our inner ear houses the vestibular (balance) organs, an inner ear infection causes complications with our balance. Specifically, vertigo.

With inner ear infections and vertigo, there are two possible conditions that could develop.

Labyrinthitis vs. Vestibular Neuritis

When ear infections progress into the inner ear, there are two nerves that can be affected: the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve. The vestibular nerve works in our vestibular (balance) system, while the cochlear nerve in our auditory (hearing) system. When an inner ear infection impacts either nerve, the result is one of two vestibular disorders.

1. Vestibular Neuritis is a vestibular disorder caused by inflammation of the vestibular nerve.
2. Labyrinthitis is a vestibular disorder caused by the inflammation of the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve.

In both Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis, because the vestibular nerve is inflamed, patients experience sudden vertigo attacks, nausea, and dizziness.

However, with Labyrinthitis, patients also experience a loss of hearing or ringing in the ears because of inflammation of the cochlear nerve.

Therefore, the main difference between Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis is the impact on hearing.

Other similarities between Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis include when and how they occur.

Most frequently, both of these vestibular disorders occur during or following an upper respiratory tract infection, cold, or flu. Bacteria from the virus travel from the lungs and throat into the ear canal (which is connected to our throat for drainage). And from the ear canal into the inner ear.

Treating Inner Ear Infections and Vertigo

Like most ear infections, an inner ear infection will generally go away on its own within 1-3 weeks. Medications can be used to help manage some of the pain and inflammation. And vestibular rehabilitation for treating the lingering dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance.

Your best resource is your primary care physician who can recognize inflammation in the ear and recommend possible treatments.

If you’re also experiencing vertigo alongside ear pain, then an inner ear infection is possible. In this case, Otolaryngologists (Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctors) or Vestibular Specialists are your best resource for identifying if the inner ear is impacted.

Read more about Labyrinthitis Treatment here.

Our clinic, the Dizzy & Vertigo Institute, is well-equipped to diagnose and treat Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis.

Our staff of vestibular specialists can help regain your quality of life.

Give us a call at (310) 954-2207 or schedule an appointment here.

We look forward to helping you!

Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis – Better Health Channel

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis are disorders that result in inflammation of the inner ear and the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain.
• The most common causes of vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis are viral infections.
• The infections that cause vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis may resolve without treatment within a few weeks.

About vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis

Vestibular neuritis (or vestibular neuronitis) and labyrinthitis are disorders that result in inflammation of the inner ear and/or the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain. Generally caused by a viral infection, these conditions cause vertigo (usually experienced as a spinning sensation), dizziness, imbalance, unsteadiness and sometimes problems with vision or hearing.

In a healthy balance system, the brain combines messages sent by the balance control systems in both ears, but if one side is affected, the messages from that side are distorted, causing symptoms of dizziness and vertigo.

Symptoms of labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis

Symptoms of vestibular neuritis include a sudden onset of a constant, intense spinning sensation that is usually disabling and requires bed rest. It is often also linked with nausea, vomiting, unsteadiness, imbalance, difficulty with vision and the inability to concentrate.

While neuritis affects only the inner ear balance apparatus, labyrinthitis also affects the inner ear hearing apparatus and/or the cochlear nerve, which transmits hearing information. This means that labyrinthitis may cause hearing loss and/or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

Causes of labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis

The most common causes of vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis are viral infections, often resulting from a systemic virus such as influenza (flu) or the herpes viruses, which cause chickenpox, shingles and cold sores. Bacterial labyrinthitis can start from an untreated middle ear infection, or in rare cases, as a result of meningitis.

The infections that cause vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis may resolve without treatment within a few weeks. However, if the inner ear is permanently damaged by the infection and the brain does not adequately compensate, symptoms can persist.

Diagnosis of labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis

Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis can be diagnosed based on:

• your medical history
• answers to questions about the initial onset of the symptoms
• your current symptoms
• a physical examination
• results of balance and hearing tests carried out by an audiologist.

Treatment for labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis

Vestibular neuritis can be treated with corticosteroids (a type of anti-inflammatory medication) in the early stages, and, if necessary, with medication to reduce nausea and vertigo.

The treatment of labyrinthitis depends on the likely cause. If symptoms persist, a specialist physiotherapist can use vestibular rehabilitation exercises to retrain the brain to interpret the distorted balance messages being transmitted from the damaged inner ear and improve symptoms.

Self-care at home for labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis

If your treatment involves vestibular rehabilitation exercises, it is important to continue the exercises at home for as long as you are advised to.

It is vital to keep moving, despite dizziness or imbalance, even though sitting or lying may be more comfortable. The aim is to return to your previous activity, work or sport, without restricting movements.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Balance Disorders and Ataxia ServiceExternal Link, Neuro-otology Investigation Unit, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Tel. (03) 9929 8270
• Balance and Hearing CentreExternal Link Tel. (03) 9662 2221

• Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitisExternal Link, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:

Dizziness with hearing loss treatment

It turns out that there is often a connection. Nausea, rotation before the eyes and the onset of hearing loss can signal Meniere’s disease and other disorders in the inner and middle ear, which are closely related to the vestibular apparatus.

Catch me falling

When the ground slips from under your feet

What does a layman do if for no reason at all he starts to feel dizzy, he is disoriented in space and / or experiences nausea, photophobia? She is frightened, of course, but she is in no hurry to go to the doctor. First, he tries to somehow wait out the unpleasant symptoms, blames everything on nerves, hypertension, or on the fact that he has not eaten in the morning, and women also find the reason in the peculiarities of the cycle.

When dizziness, even severe, disappears, few decide to go to the doctor for a diagnosis. After all, one must be puzzled, to which specialist to sign up, and indeed why? Nothing else worries.

“In fact, there is a wide range of diseases that lead to the so-called systemic or vestibular dizziness,” says Zinaida Morozova, an audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist at MasterSluh-Moscow LLC. – And each of these ailments once had that very first episode that the patient attributed to nerves or pressure.

Causes of dizziness can be:

• Viral infection and acute inflammation of the vestibular nerve – vestibular neuronitis.
• Entry of otolithic particles into the canals of the vestibular apparatus.
• Violation of cerebral circulation.
• Various autoimmune diseases.
• Previous traumas (probably even those you forgot about).
• Tumors.
• Cervical osteochondrosis.
• The combination of attacks of dizziness, tinnitus, photophobia and hearing loss often signals Meniere’s disease (hydrops of the ear labyrinth).

In Meniere’s disease and other inner and middle ear problems, vertigo is rare at first. Only over time, their frequency and strength increase almost to daily and extremely unpleasant: when everything around starts to rotate rapidly and you can only be saved in a lying position.

The task of the doctor is to try to catch the disease in the early stages, to find the cause. So more likely to get rid of the problem. One episode of dizziness can still be experienced (maybe the nerves really are to blame), but when the symptoms add up to the system, run to a specialist.

Which doctor should I go to with my dizziness?

It is logical – to see a therapist or immediately to a neurologist. A good specialist will not brush aside if the patient is really worried about some symptom, will not say: “Well, what do you want? Age … “Or:” Yes, you have vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Unfortunately, the above diagnostics for most patients is a bit of an ideal world. Otherwise, people would not have been looking for the root of their problems for years, turning to various neurologists and other doctors of evidence-based and not very medicine.

Therefore, the rule is this – if after the appointment of a neurologist (or even a change of doctor) the condition does not improve, or even worsens, you are not sent for new tests or put in a queue for a long time, take matters into your own hands.

The main task for the patient at any stage is not to be silent, hoping that the doctor himself will figure it out. If your head is spinning and it seems that your hearing seems to be getting worse, or your ears are buzzing / ringing, talk about everything at the reception! This way you are more likely to make a correct diagnosis.

It is possible, bypassing the local therapist, to immediately go to the ENT or audiologist, this is usually done by those who have mild dizziness, but the ears really bother. Meniere’s disease and other disorders in the work of the inner ear are dealt with by specialized specialists.

Inner ear disorders that cause dizziness can be diagnosed with special tests that evaluate your stability, gait, eye tracking, and vestibular response to changes in body position. The stages of diagnosing dizziness include: conversation, tests, additional diagnostic research methods if necessary, diagnosis.

The medical centers of the MasterSluh network employ professionals who know everything about the functioning of the auditory system. They carry out high-quality diagnostics and accurately interpret its results, and most importantly, they are always in contact with other narrow specialists. You will not be left alone with your problem for sure.

You can make an appointment by calling the numbers listed on the contacts page of the MasterSluh centers or using a single multi-channel number 8 (800) 775-11-07.

What is the prevention and treatment?

The list of ailments associated with the work of the inner ear, not to mention other possible causes of dizziness, is huge. Everything is individual. But in any case, an excellent prevention would be a healthy lifestyle, physical education and sports with an emphasis on pumping the vestibular apparatus – Nordic walking, cycling, etc.

The general risk group is adults, often with changes in salt and calcium metabolism, the same changes are recorded in diseases of the inner and middle ear, vascular diseases, and reduced physical activity. So we draw conclusions and strive for a healthy lifestyle.

Treatment is prescribed depending on the diagnosis, because dizziness is only one of the symptoms. Until you get tested, you won’t know what’s going on. Some will need surgery, others just a couple of visits to the doctor.

Dizziness is not an independent disease, but only its symptom. In some cases, it signals serious disorders in the body, in particular in the work of the vestibular apparatus. Find out the cause, try to eliminate it or mitigate the manifestations only with the help of a doctor. Which specialist should be contacted for dizziness, especially frequent ones, is an ambiguous question. You can go a long way and start with a local therapist in a polyclinic, but it’s easier and faster to contact the MasterSluh specialized medical center and make an appointment with an audiologist-otolaryngologist.

We advise our specialists in different cities:

Astrakhan

• Evgenia Anatolyevna Grigorieva;
• Nadezhda Alekseevna Khonina

Kaliningrad

• Ruslan Magomedovich Tursunov;
• Yana Vladislavovna Kravchenko

Kurgan

• Natalya Aleksandrovna Lipnevich

Moscow

• Zinaida Nikolaevna Morozova

Pyatigorsk

• Irina Fedorovna Evteeva

Rostov-on-Don

• Elena Anatolyevna Anokhina;
• Irina Viktorovna Vnukova

Samara

• Anastasia Alexandrovna Sladkova;
• Irina Sergeevna Platonova

Simferopol

• Vasily Vladimirovich Bogdanov

Sochi

• Nauruz Ismailovich Bayramkulov

Taganrog

• Natalya Vitalievna Andreeva

Mines

• Olesya Vyacheslavovna Zhuravleva

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) | Good to know

1. Main
2. Good to know
3. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is a common clinical balance disorder characterized by recurrent bouts of vertigo that are brief in nature (usually 10-60 seconds) and are most commonly triggered by certain head positions. Benign, medically speaking, means it is not life threatening. Paroxysmal means that it occurs with a rapid and sudden onset or increase in symptoms.

BPPV is the most common cause of recurrent vertigo. BPPV is thought to be caused by calcium carbonate crystals (called otoconia, otoliths, or “ear calculi”) in the semicircular canals of the inner ear. Under normal circumstances, these crystals are located within the ear pouch, but in BPPV, these crystals are thought to be dislodged and migrate into the semicircular canals of the ear. This misalignment is thought to be due to a number of possible causes, such as trauma to the ear or head, ear infection or surgery, or natural degeneration of the structures of the inner ear. Often, however, the direct cause cannot be identified.

Otoconia settle in one place of the canal when the head is motionless. The most common lesion is the posterior semicircular canal. A sudden change in head position, often caused by activities such as rolling over in bed, getting out of bed, tilting the head, or looking up, causes the crystals to move. This shift, in turn, sends false signals about balance to the brain and causes dizziness.

Dizziness due to BPPV can be severe and accompanied by nausea. Attacks can occur for seemingly no reason and then disappear for weeks or months before returning again. Usually, BPPV affects only one ear, and although it can occur at any age, it often occurs in patients over 60 years of age and is more common in women. Nystagmus is usually present.

In our clinic, BPPV is diagnosed and treated by a neurologist Elena Viktorovna Zhaurina

+7 4742 515-911, 566-911

398000 Lipetsk,
st. Forge, 10 A

398000 Lipetsk,
st. Gogol, 60

+7 (4742) 515-911 , 566-911

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