Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 3/23/2009

Question
I have been diagnosed with labrynthitis.  Will this ever go completely away?  I have seen a audiologist and an ENT several times. I had a severe case of dizziness and vomiting about 2 months ago and had to go to the emergency room, they diagnosed me with labrynthitis. As soon as the doctor saw my eyes darting around wildly he said I had that.  My ear doctor also said that I may have benign positional vertigo but never confirmed it.  He really never gave me a concrete answer.  I also have had constant ringing in my ears since last May when a picture frame dropped and made a loud noise, then the ringing started.  I am a mess. Help!

Answer
Hi Donna,

I can understand your concern.  Labyrinthitis, a viral infection of the vestibular/balance portion of the inner ear, usually occurs after a respiratory infection.  It usually resolves but can take as long as several months.  It can also leave some residual vestibular weakness.  

Probably the best thing at this point is a course of vestibular rehabilitation, if you have not already started one.  This will help your body to adjust to the weakness in your inner ear.  Although this is not a cure, it may may you feel and function better.

As for the ringing, you may want to refer to this site:  www.tinnitus.org.  Tinnitus - the technical term for the ringing - causes by an acoustic trauma usually resolves when the inflammation from the original trauma subsides.  However, if you had any nerve damage in your ears prior to the trauma, it is very possible that the trauma just "put you over the edge."  In this case, the tinnitus may very well be permanent.  It is also possible that it is being made worse by the labyrinthitis.  Again, there are therapies that may help such as biofeedback and tinnitus retraining therapy.  There is also another successful therapy known as Neuromonics: www.neuromonics.com.

Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology