H83.1: Labyrinthine fistula

The ear is a sensory organ that is used to hear and to maintain one’s balance. There are 3 different areas in the ear: the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. The inner ear is made up of a series of bony canals filled with fluid. The inner ear contains the organs of hearing and balance. The organ of hearing is also called the cochlea because it is a spiral-shaped bony canal. Inside the cochlea are the sensory cells for hearing. The organ of balance is made up of three semicircular bony canals. The inner ear connects to the brain via the auditory nerve and the vestibular nerve.

You have a hole in the canal wall in your inner ear. This kind of hole causes there to be a connection between the inner ear and the surrounding tissue that would not normally exist. The connection is typically between the inner ear and middle ear. In this case, it is possible for fluid from the inner ear to get into the middle ear through the hole. In some cases, air also enters the inner ear through the hole. The cause of the damage may include inflammation or injury. Another possible cause is when pressure in the environment changes within a short period of time.

When the inner ear is damaged, one may experience various symptoms. One might be dizzy. Dizziness can be triggered, among other things, when pressure is applied externally to the external ear. In some cases, loud noises also result in dizziness. Sometimes one also has balance problems. The person may then find it difficult to ride a bicycle. One’s hearing may be worse than usual.