Labyrinthitis Treatment in Calgary
Caring, Individualized Vestibular Physiotherapy at Home
What is Labyrinthitis?
Labyrinthitis is an inner ear condition caused by inflammation of the balance and hearing structures (Labyrinth) in the inner ear, often affecting both balance and hearing at the same time. It can lead to sudden dizziness or vertigo along with hearing changes.
Common Symptoms of Labyrinthitis
Sudden, severe vertigo (spinning sensation)
Dizziness lasting hours to days
Hearing loss or muffled hearing (in one ear)
Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
Nausea and vomiting
Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
What Causes Labyrinthitis?
Labyrinthitis is most commonly caused by a viral infection, often following a cold or flu. Less commonly, it can be caused by bacterial infections or occur after middle ear infections. The inflammation affects both balance and hearing structures in the inner ear.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on thorough interview of symptoms, screening for hearing changes, and a clinical examination. I will assess balance, eye movements, and hearing to distinguish it from other causes of dizziness such as vestibular neuritis or stroke.
Treatment for Labyrinthitis
Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and supporting recovery. This may include medications for nausea and dizziness in the short term, followed by vestibular rehabilitation therapy to help restore balance and reduce long-term dizziness.
Recovery time for Labyrinthitis
Most people improve within a few days to weeks, but full recovery can take several weeks to a few months. Some may experience lingering imbalance or mild dizziness during recovery as the brain adapts.
When to Seek Help
You should seek help if you experience ongoing dizziness, unsteadiness, or balance problems that are affecting your daily life or not improving over time. It’s also important to get assessed if you feel unsteady when walking, have difficulty with head movements, or are at risk of falling.
Early vestibular physiotherapy can help identify the cause and start targeted treatment to improve balance and reduce symptoms more quickly.
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While relatively uncommon, labyrinthitis can sometimes cause permanent hearing loss. Severe or chronic cases, particularly those stemming from bacterial infections—can result in irreversible damage to the inner ear, causing permanent sensorineural hearing loss and chronic balance issues.
Early diagnosis and intervention can often lead to full resolution.
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In some cases labyrinthitis can improve on its own over time as the inner ear inflammation settles. However, symptoms like dizziness and imbalance can take days to weeks to improve, and some people may have lingering balance issues during recovery. If symptoms persist for a very long time, it may be due to lasting damage to the inner ear or a failure in the brain's ability to adjust to the nerve damage, requiring vestibular therapy.
Vestibular physiotherapy can help speed up recovery by retraining the brain to compensate for the changes in the inner ear and reducing ongoing dizziness or unsteadiness.
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Labyrinthitis usually does not come and go in episodes. Instead, it typically starts suddenly and causes more constant, severe dizziness or vertigo for a period of time while the inner ear is inflamed. As the inflammation settles, symptoms gradually improve over days to weeks.