acoustic schwannoma symptoms
The treatment of an acoustic neuroma may involve observation (if the tumor is small and does not cause symptoms), surgical removal (microsurgery or excision) of the tumor, or the use of radiation to stop the tumor from growing (radiation therapy or radiosurgery). The symptoms of an acoustic neuroma occur from the tumor pressing against the eighth cranial nerve and disrupting its ability to transmit nerve signals to the brain. An acoustic neuroma is not cancerous (malignant); it does not spread to other parts of the body. The reason an acoustic neuroma forms is unknown. Find out more about the six main symptoms of acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas). The symptoms include hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, imbalance, pressure, and facial weakness and numbness. Skip Navigation What Are Symptoms of an Acoustic Neuroma (AN)? Hearing Loss Tinnitus (Ringing in the ears) Vertigo Imbalance Pressure Facial Weakness & Numbness. Hearing Loss. In over 90% of the patients with AN, the first symptom is a reduction in hearing on one ear due to involvement of the VIIIth nerve. With acoustic neuroma, hearing loss is often accompanied by ringing in on ear-- tinnitus. The hearing loss is usually subtle and worsens very slowly over a period of time. In about 5% of cases, there may be a sudden loss of hearing. Muscle innervation: For the acoustic neuromas, pressure upon or infiltration of the tumor into the facial nerve may result in facial weakness. The muscles supplied by the facial nerve include the muscles of facial expression and spontaneous emotion. Your recovery time and any remaining symptoms can vary widely based on the size and location of the schwannoma. If the schwannoma is small and not causing any problems, your doctor may decide to simply monitor the tumor for signs of growth or change. An acoustic neuroma, also known as a vestibular schwannoma, is a rare benign (non-cancerous) growth that develops on the eighth cranial nerve. This nerve runs from the inner ear to the brain and is responsible for hearing and balance (equilibrium). A schwannoma is a tumor that grows in the sheaths of nerves in your peripheral nervous system, or the parts of your nervous system that aren’t in your brain or spinal cord. You may hear schwannomas referred to as neurilemomas, neuromas, or neurolemomas. Depending on where the schwannoma is, you may feel these symptoms in your face, arms, legs, or torso. Your symptoms may change as the tumor gets bigger. Many schwannomas occur on the nerve that connect your inner ear and brain. This is known as a vestibular schwannoma, or acoustic neuroma. In addition to the symptoms above, an acoustic neuroma can also cause: hearing problems in one or both ears; ringing in one or both ears
The symptoms of acoustic neuromas include hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, imbalance, pressure, and facial weakness and numbness.