Was ist eine Labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis ist eine Entzündung des Innenohrs, die durch Infektionen, wie zum Beispiel eine Virusinfektion der oberen Atemwege, verursacht werden kann. Diese Entzündung betrifft das Labyrinth, das aus den Bogengängen und der Cochlea besteht und für das Gleichgewicht und das Hören verantwortlich ist. Die Symptome von Labyrinthitis können Schwindel, Gleichgewichtsstörungen, Hörverlust, Tinnitus und Übelkeit umfassen.

Wie funktioniert Hören mit Cochlea Implantat?

Bei einem CI werden elektrische Impulse an die Hörnerven weitergeleitet. Das Hörzentrum im Gehirn muss lernen, diese Impulse als Geräusche und in Sprache zu interpretieren. Das ist je nach Träger individuell verschieden.

Diagnosis: Labyrinthitis: Hearing Saved with a Cochlear Implant

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Chris Christmann – A Life with Music

Chris Christmann loves rock music and festivals. Then she is diagnosed with labyrinthitis. She receives a cochlear implant (CI) and regains her hearing.

Even as a teenager, Chris Christmann enjoyed going to festivals with her friends. She especially loves smaller events with a maximum of 6,000 attendees. Five years ago, she suddenly developed a sore throat, which turned out to be the first sign of a severe middle ear infection. However, it took a while before she was diagnosed with labyrinthitis. “My head felt like it was wrapped in cotton; everything sounded muffled, as if I were inside a diving bell,” Chris recalls. “I was given antibiotics and a nasal spray, but it didn’t get any better. The ENT doctor then performed a hearing test. That’s when it turned out that I couldn’t hear anything on my left side.”

Diagnosis of Labyrinthitis

At an ENT clinic, she was then diagnosed with labyrinthitis. Her cochlea had already been damaged. She was discharged with the advice that she could apply for a 20 percent disability rating, and she was also advised to look into the option of a cochlear implant (CI). “That was a shock. I had to go back to the ENT practice and was lucky enough to see a locum doctor who specializes in CIs,” says Chris Christmann. “She helped ease many of my fears and took wonderful care of me overall. She strongly advised me to get a cochlear implant.”

What is labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear that can be caused by infections, such as a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. This inflammation affects the labyrinth, which consists of the semicircular canals and the cochlea and is responsible for balance and hearing. Symptoms of labyrinthitis may include dizziness, balance problems, hearing loss, tinnitus, and nausea.

If the ossification caused by labyrinthitis has progressed too far, hearing implants can no longer be implanted, so Chris had to act quickly and underwent the initial preliminary examinations. “I had nothing to lose by having the surgery—quite the opposite. If I hadn’t had it done, I would have lost any chance of ever hearing again in my left ear,” she explains.

Cochlear Implant Surgery

The cochlear implant surgery lasted seven hours—significantly longer than usual—because the labyrinthitis had already caused a great deal of damage. “I had the surgery on Thursday, was able to go home on Sunday, and was already back at the Judas Priest concert with my husband the following Wednesday,” says Chris Christmann. However, she couldn’t hear again right after the surgery. First, everything had to heal, and then she received the audio processor. The fitting took place at a clinic, where the first hearing tests were also conducted. “You literally have to relearn how to hear with a cochlear implant,” Chris explains.

How does hearing work with a cochlear implant?

With a cochlear implant, electrical impulses are transmitted to the auditory nerves. The auditory center in the brain must learn to interpret these impulses as sounds and speech. “During the initial fitting, all I heard at first was a crackling and beeping—something you can’t really describe,” says Chris Christmann. “Then, through hearing therapy with speech-language pathologists, I relearned how to hear, step by step.”

The first thing Chris Christmann could hear again was birdsong; then she was able to make out individual words in the rhythm of speech. “It helped that I’d always listened to a lot of music—I had a good sense of rhythm. When I was able to understand the word ‘locomotive’ after just a few days, it was a breakthrough that really moved me. I knew the cochlear implant was working,” Christmann says happily. Since then, she’s been coming to the clinic every six months for outpatient visits, where fine-tuning adjustments are made on a regular basis.

Enjoying Music Again

Chris can now truly enjoy music again. “At first, the sound on the left side was a bit tinny, but then we balanced it out. But I’m very happy with how it is now,” explains the cochlear implant user. “I hear music as a harmonious whole again and can even understand song lyrics. I’m very grateful that I’ve received such excellent care throughout the entire process. Getting a cochlear implant was absolutely the right decision for me.”

Whether you're listening to music, talking on the phone, or traveling with a cochlear implant (CI), here are some tips to make everyday life with a cochlear implant easier.