Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis is an infection involving the inner ear that typically causes hearing loss and vertigo.
Treatment for Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis is a self-limiting illness, meaning the symptoms will eventually resolve on their own, usually within 3 weeks. If symptoms are severe enough, anti-vertigo medications and/or anti-nausea medications can be used during the acute phase. However, the overuse or long-term use of these medications is strongly discouraged because they considerably reduce the brain’s ability to compensate for the dizziness and vertigo on its own. For this reason, Metropolitan NeuroEar Group rarely uses these medications.
Sometimes, patients will still have residual vestibular dysfunction even after the acute symptoms of labyrinthitis resolve. In these cases, vestibular physical therapy can aid patients in compensating for the balance dysfunction.