Vestibular Neuritis and Tinnitus

[BradK]

I've been diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis and have been suffering for 6 months. I've seen a neurologist and ENT on several occasions and there's really nothing anyone can do. I have constant muscle twitching all over my body and had an MRI, blood work, ENG and hearing test. The only thing that came up abnormal was the ENG, which showed a 20% weakness in one ear. I had a month break from the derealization/lightheadedness, but the VN attacked me again a few weeks ago. I'm feeling much better in regard to the vestibular functions; however, ringing started in my ears a week ago and I was ok with it, until last night when I awoke to a high pitched scream in my ears that couldn't be masked. I managed to calm myself down and get a couple hours of rest. The ringing is back to its normal volume after a few hours, but I'm still wondering what happened? Can a viral infection also cause tinnitus? Is it common for someone to have VN and tinnitus?

 

[Dr. Nagler]

The ringing is back to its normal volume after a few hours, but I'm still wondering what happened?

Hard to say. When one experiences the onset of tinnitus, it is quite natural to try to figure out what caused it. Obviously if the tinnitus begins immediately after attending a rock concert without ear protection, it's a no-brainer. In your case it started maybe three or four weeks after an attack of vestibular neuritis. The time frame there makes it a bit tougher to draw some sort of causal relationship. I'd say more likely than not it's coincidental, but there is obviously no way of knowing for sure. Either way, it's not like you can fix something and thereby fix the tinnitus, so the cause really doesn't matter. (See your ENT for a tinnitus evaluation to be absolutely certain in that regard.)

Can a viral infection also cause tinnitus?

Yes.

Is it common for someone to have VN and tinnitus?

Vestibular neuritis generally spares the auditory system and affects only the vestibular system.

Dr. Stephen Nagler