Vestibular Neuritis: What It Is and How Physiotherapy Can Help
Have you suddenly experienced a severe spinning sensation, nausea, or loss of balance, without any changes to your hearing? You may be experiencing vestibular neuritis, an inner ear condition that affects your balance system.
Vestibular neuritis can feel overwhelming and unsettling, but recovery is possible. At Motion Health Rehab in Capalaba and Underwood, our physiotherapists provide specialised vestibular rehabilitation to help restore your balance, reduce dizziness, and get you back to your daily activities.
What Is Vestibular Neuritis?
Vestibular neuritis is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain. This nerve sends signals about balance and spatial orientation. When it becomes inflamed, the brain receives disrupted or reduced balance information, leading to vertigo and unsteadiness.
It is most often caused by a viral infection (such as after a cold or flu). Unlike labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis does not affect the hearing system, so hearing loss and tinnitus are not typical symptoms.
Common Symptoms of Vestibular Neuritis
Symptoms usually come on suddenly and may include:
- Vertigo (spinning sensation, often intense at first)
- Severe dizziness and imbalance
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty focusing or walking
- Symptoms that worsen with head movement
Symptoms are usually most severe in the first few days, then gradually improve. However, without treatment, balance problems or motion sensitivity may linger for weeks or months.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made through a clinical assessment by your GP or physiotherapist. In some cases, additional vestibular tests or imaging may be arranged to rule out other causes of vertigo.
At Motion Health Rehab, our vestibular physiotherapists assess eye movements, balance, and functional mobility to confirm whether vestibular rehab will help.
How Can Physiotherapy Help Vestibular Neuritis?
After the acute infection phase settles, physiotherapy is essential for recovery. Through exercises and retraining, your brain can adapt to changes in the balance system.
Vestibular rehabilitation may include:
- Gaze stability training to help with visual focus during head movements
- Balance retraining to improve steadiness and confidence
- Habituation exercises to reduce dizziness with movement
- Walking drills and functional activities to restore daily mobility
- Home exercise programs tailored to your needs
With guided rehab, most people experience faster recovery and less long-term dizziness.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
The initial severe symptoms of vestibular neuritis often settle within a few days, but imbalance and motion sensitivity can persist. With vestibular physiotherapy, many patients improve within 4–6 weeks, depending on severity and how quickly therapy begins.
Get Support for Vestibular Neuritis in Capalaba and Underwood
If you’ve had a sudden dizzy episode and are still struggling with balance or motion sensitivity, don’t wait for it to “just go away.” Early rehabilitation leads to better outcomes.
At Motion Health Rehab, our team is experienced in treating vestibular neuritis and other dizziness conditions. We provide individualised treatment and collaborate with your GP and specialists for the best care.
