An acoustic neuroma or (vestibular schwannoma), is a benign tumor that grows on the hearing or acoustic nerve, which assists in providing your hearing and balance. It affects around 13 people in a million and so is relatively rare. It is normally detected in people who are aged between 30 -60 years of age. The tumor also grows next to the facial nerve that carries information to and from the brain to the muscles in the face. The cells are formed from a type of cell called a “Schwann cell”, hence the other name vestibular schwannoma, which is sometimes given to an acoustic neuroma.
The acoustic neuroma tends to grow quite slowly in size but does not spread away from where it is sited. Although not normally life threatening, it can sometimes grow large enough to press on to the brain, thus requiring treatment. Most acoustic neuromas can if detected, be treated before they get to this stage. All brain tumors are quite rare and the acoustic neuroma accounts for about nine out of every hundred.
There are several symptoms of an acoustic neuroma, which can show in the form of either tinnitus (ringing in the ears), a hearing loss that is generally one sided,
(see audiogram example), vertigo in the form of room spinning, facial numbness , pain or tingling sensation, headaches (rare), short term problems with sight (rare) and ear ache.
Your hearing aid dispenser should always refer you to your G.P. for any of the above symptoms and you may be then referred to hospital for neurological tests and an M.R.I. scan which is a type of brain x-ray to see if there is any presence of an acoustic neuroma.
The treatment will depend on several factors such as age, general health and the size and position of the tumor. If the tumor is small it may well be monitored by regular screenings. If necessary you may well be treated by surgery where in around 95% of cases the tumor can be removed completely. Depending again on its size, the tumor may in many cases cause permanent damage to your hearing, where it may be recommended that you wear a hearing aid. In some cases the whole hearing organ may have to be removed, causing permanent deafness to the affected ear. In such cases a Bicros or Cros hearing aid system can be fitted which sends sounds from the dead ear to the better or normal hearing ear.
It’s difficult to even try to understand how an acoustic neuroma can affect a person’s life but “Albin’s story” might give a small insight into how people are affected.
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