What role does the labyrinthitis play in hearing?

Labyrinthitis can cause a person to lose hearing in one ear or cause a ringing in the ears, according to WebMD. The good news is that these symptoms are temporary and, like the condition itself, shouldn't last longer than a few weeks.

Doctors typically want to give affected patients a hearing test to rule out other causes of hearing loss. Labyrinthitis is rarely the cause of permanent hearing loss.

Medical professionals are still not sure what causes labyrinthitis, but it seems to be caused by viral infections. These infections are often complications of the cold or flu. Ear infections, stress, heavy alcohol use and smoking increase the risk for labyrinthitis.