Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 8/1/2009

Question
Hello,

I started feeling dizzy and off-balanced around March 9, 2009.  I would feel my body swaying when seated, but not when I am walking or in lying in bed.  A few days later, I defeated what seemed like a cold, but 2 weeks later, I started feeling sick (tired all the time, nauseous and slightly feverish) and very congested and both of my ears felt clogged and hurt a bit.  I had this feeling until mid April and my right ear started ringing softly and intermittently and I started feeling dizzy to the point of having to hold on to furniture.  The dizziness would last 3-4 days and I would be okay.  Saw my primary doctor in late March and he didn’t see any inflammation or infection in the ears.  Saw the ENT in mid April and he didn’t see any abnormalities in the ears.  MRI and hearing tests were normal.  ENT thinks that the tinnitus is from a viral infection.  It’s already been more than 3  months and my tinnitus in the right ear only seems to get worse (ringing 24/7) and louder.  Can viral infections last that long?  My left ear also started ringing around May and rings intermittently especially when I lie on the left side.  I started seeing a second ENT and he just told me to accept the tinnitus and that there’s no cure.  I am very frustrated and wish there is something I can do to alleviate the tinnitus or to confirm if the tinnitus is a result of a viral infection.  Are such tests available?  Thank you.


Answer
Hi Alicia,
The symptoms you describe are most likely due to a viral labyrinthitis or a viral neuonitis.  Both of these conditions are caused by a virus; the first attacks the inner ear and the second attacks the auditory nerve.  Unfortunately, there really is no way to determine if the tinnitus is the result of the viral infection. The problem with viral infections is that even when the virus itself is no longer active, the residual damage, e.g., tinnitus and dizziness, can linger for months or even years.  

However, you do not have to "just live with it."  I refer you to this site of the American Tinnitus Association: ata.org.  There is a wealth of information here as well as a list of professionals who specialize in tinnitus treatments.

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