Physical Therapy
Vestibular Neuritis & Labyrinthitis
Inner ear inflammation that responds well to the right rehabilitation.
Understanding This Condition
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis are both conditions involving inflammation of structures in the inner ear, typically following a viral infection. Vestibular neuritis affects the vestibular nerve; labyrinthitis affects the labyrinth itself and can also involve hearing changes. Both produce sudden, often severe dizziness that can be alarming when it first occurs.
While the acute phase often resolves on its own within days to weeks, many patients are left with lingering imbalance, unsteadiness, or dizziness with certain movements — the phase where vestibular rehabilitation makes the biggest difference.
What Causes It
- Viral infection affecting the inner ear or vestibular nerve
- Less commonly, bacterial infection
- Following a cold, flu, or other upper respiratory illness
Signs & Symptoms
- Sudden onset of severe, constant vertigo
- Nausea and vomiting during the acute phase
- Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
- Hearing changes or ringing in the ear (more common with labyrinthitis)
- Lingering unsteadiness or dizziness with head movement after the acute phase passes
How We Evaluate It
We evaluate the pattern and history of your symptoms, conduct vestibular and balance testing, and identify which structures are involved and how well your brain has already begun compensating on its own — since treatment focuses on completing and accelerating that compensation process.
Our Treatment Approach
Once the acute infection has resolved, vestibular rehabilitation focuses on retraining the brain to compensate for the damaged vestibular input.
- Habituation exercises to reduce dizziness with specific movements
- Gaze stabilization exercises to restore stable vision during head motion
- Balance retraining to rebuild confidence and stability while walking
- A progressive program that increases challenge as your compensation improves
What to Expect
Most patients see steady improvement over four to eight weeks of vestibular rehabilitation, though the acute phase itself typically resolves within the first couple of weeks with or without therapy.
Left untreated, some patients develop chronic imbalance that persists well beyond the original infection — vestibular rehabilitation significantly reduces that risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an emergency?
Sudden severe dizziness should be evaluated promptly to rule out other causes, including stroke — but once serious causes are ruled out, vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis respond well to rehabilitation.
Will my hearing changes go away too?
This depends on the specific condition and degree of involvement — we'll coordinate with an ENT specialist if hearing changes are significant or persistent.
Why am I still dizzy weeks after the infection cleared?
This is common — the acute infection often resolves faster than the brain's full compensation for the vestibular damage, which is exactly what rehabilitation is designed to accelerate.
The infection itself usually passes quickly. What determines whether the dizziness lingers for months is whether the brain gets the right rehabilitation to finish compensating — that's where we come in.
Confidential · No Pressure · Coordinated Care
Start today. Walk-ins welcome.
Call us, send a message, or just come by the clinic. Same-day appointments are available, and our team will meet you without judgment.
1010 E McDowell Rd, Suite 410, Phoenix, AZ 85006 · Open until 7 PM Wednesdays