Everyone knows that our ears are fundamental to how we hear, but few people realize that our sense of balance is also part of the ears’ function. While the outer, middle and inner ear all play roles in our ability to hear, balance is mainly a function of structures in the inner ear. Balance depends heavily on part of the inner ear known as the labyrinth, and infections in the labyrinth are known as “labyrinthitis” and can disrupt our vision and balance as well as provoking nausea and headaches.

Balance and the Inner Ear

Our inner ear performs two major functions we depend on. Primarily, we recognize the role it plays in hearing, where hair cells in the cochlea detect the subtle vibrations of sound waves. Another structure in the inner ear holds the key to our sense of balance and position: the labyrinth. The labyrinth is comprised of soft and rigid tissue.

Detecting the movement of the body and balancing it is dependent on the movement of fluid within the labyrinth. Three semicircular canals are part of the structure of the labyrinth, each a small arc on a different plane. Any movement of our body in space provokes movement of fluid in these arcs, which our brain calibrates into our sense of three-dimensional space.

This spatial sense does a lot of subtle work to help us coordinate our movements and vision. When we move our brain uses information from our inner ear to compensate for our vision. That is why our eyesight is steady even when we are running or jumping, while a video camera captures the same motion with sudden disorienting jerks and jostles.

Signs of Infection

If the labyrinth of the inner ear becomes infected, it can become inflamed and throw off our ability to balance. It often causes sudden bouts of dizziness and nausea, as well as blurry or double vision, headaches and tinnitus. Infections can also be accompanied by a loss of hearing and even the presence of pus or fluid being expelled from the ear.

For the most part, labyrinthitis infections are viral and usually run their course over two weeks. Symptoms that last longer than two weeks without subsiding may be a cause for concern. When infection occurs in young children however, there is a possibility that the underlying cause is a bacterial infection which can cause serious damage to the inner ear.

Likelihood of Labyrinthitis

Who is most vulnerable to labyrinthitis? Studies have found that people with existing hearing loss and persons with autoimmune issues are most likely to experience inner ear infections. Labyrinthitis often follows after incidences of other viral infections, such as an influenza or even a common cold, extending a person’s recovery time.

How Labyrinthitis Is Treated

For viral labyrinthitis, no immediate cure is available, but treatment can help minimize symptoms. Most viral cases of labyrinthitis cause a few weeks of symptoms before resolving themselves. Medication can help manage symptoms like nausea and tamper dizziness spells.

Other symptoms like tinnitus can be personally managed with sound therapies that distract from uncomfortable tones and ringing in the ear. If the ear is experiencing physical pain, medical intervention can also help ease the course of the infection.

The experience of a sudden loss in hearing should always be assessed by a hearing specialist. A hearing specialist can help you monitor and control an infection as well as treating any permanent hearing issues. Ear infections in children should always be taken seriously. Young people have a much higher likelihood of bacterial labyrinthitis which can cause serious damage to the ear if not treated.

Chronic Labyrinthitis

For a small percentage of people, labyrinthitis isn't a passing health issue. Instead it resurges over the course of months, and sometimes years. This is known as chronic labyrinthitis and it may call for a more serious course of treatment to relieve the symptoms.

Orange County Physicians' Hearing Services

For lifetime hearing and balance care, make your choice Orange County Physicians' Hearing Services. In addition to four convenient locations throughout the county, an accomplished staff and a wide range of treatment options, Orange County Physicians' Hearing Services offers lifelong care for healthy hearing from pediatric to adult hearing services.

Have you been experiencing the signs of labyrinthitis? At Orange County Physicians' Hearing Services, we can help. Set up an appointment today and be on track for better hearing and balance!