Acoustic neuromas (more correctly known as Vestibular Schwannoma's) are benign tumors that grow on the balance (or vestibular) portion of the hearing and balance nerve (Eighth Cranial Nerve).  These tumors are the most common tumors found in this region of the body.  Acoustic tumors are non-cancerous, and tend to be slow growing which gives the patient a number of options in treating them.

Symptoms of an acoustic neuroma can be subtle, and can include:

        
        Tinnitus, or "head noise"

          Hearing Loss

          Difficulty understanding speech

          Loss of balance or vertigo

Often patients will present with just a slight difference in hearing between their two ears.  In these cases, a hearing test (audiogram) will show that one ear hears better than the other.  Your doctor may order additional tests if the difference in hearing is seen.  Other tests include:

 -Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)         with a special dye(Gadolinium)

 

 -Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing

 

 -Sometimes a CAT scan

 

 -Balance Testing

MRI is considered the "gold standard" and can find acoustic tumors as small as 1 mm.

Once an acoustic tumor is diagnosed, there are three main options:

          Observation

          Radiosurgery

          Microsurgery