Vestibular Neuritis: When Balance Falters Overnight
By Subang Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist Clinic

Did you know: Vestibular neuritis is one of the top three causes of vertigo related to the inner ear (along with BPPV and Meniere’s Disease).

What Is Vestibular Neuritis?

Imagine waking up one morning and the world won’t stop spinning—you can’t stand straight, your stomach turns, and even small head movements make you dizzy.

That sudden, severe vertigo lasting for hours or even days may be due to Vestibular Neuritis—an inflammation of the vestibular nerve, carrier between the inner ear and brain.

The Bárány Society defines Vestibular Neuritis(or Acute Unilateral Vestibulopathy) as a sudden, continuous vertigo lasting at least 24 hours, without hearing loss or tinnitus, caused by dysfunction of one vestibular nerve.

(BáránySocietyConsensus,2022)

How It Happens—The Science Behind the Spin

Vestibular Neuritis is thought to be caused by a viral infection or post-viral inflammation of the vestibular nerve—commonly after a cold, flu, or upper respiratory infection.

What It Feels Like

Vestibular Neuritis typically begins suddenly, often overnight or upon waking.

Common symptoms include:

Severe, constant vertigo(spinning sensation)lasting days Nausea and vomiting

Unsteady gait or falls Difficulty focusing(oscillopsia)

Worsening dizziness with head or body movement

Important distinction: Unlike Labyrinthitis, Vestibular Neuritis does not cause hearing loss or tinnitus — this is a key diagnostic clue.

Cited by

Strupp M.etal Acute unilateral vestibulopathy(Vestibular Neuritis):Diagnostic criteria — Consensus document of the Bárány Society. J Vestib Res, 2022.

Lee H.etal. Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vestibular Neuritis. Front Neurol, 2023.

Tokumasu K.etal. Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vestibular Neuritis (2021). PubMed, 2022.

Park J.H.etal. Vestibular Rehabilitation and Corticosteroids for Vestibular Neuritis: Meta-analysis of RCTs. Medicine (MDPI), 2022.

Mayo Clinic/Elsevier. Corticosteroids for Vestibular Neuritis—Evidence Synthesis, 2023.

MSD Manual Professional Edition. Vestibular Neuritis Over view and Management, 2024.