&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma): Symptoms, Causes &amp;amp; Treatment&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;An &lt;strong&gt;acoustic neuroma&lt;/strong&gt;, now more accurately known as a &lt;strong&gt;vestibular schwannoma&lt;/strong&gt;, is a &lt;strong&gt;rare, benign (non-cancerous) tumour&lt;/strong&gt; that develops on the &lt;strong&gt;vestibulocochlear nerve&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;mdash;the nerve responsible for hearing and balance. This nerve runs from the inner ear to the brain and is present on both sides of the head.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Although acoustic neuromas grow inside the skull and close to the brainstem, they &lt;strong&gt;do not arise from brain tissue&lt;/strong&gt; and are therefore &lt;strong&gt;not true brain tumours&lt;/strong&gt;. They develop from &lt;strong&gt;Schwann cells&lt;/strong&gt;, which form the protective covering around peripheral nerves. These tumours are typically slow-growing and do not spread to other parts of the body.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;As an acoustic neuroma enlarges, it may press on nearby nerves or brain structures, leading to &lt;strong&gt;hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), balance problems and, in some cases, facial numbness or weakness&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How Common Is Acoustic Neuroma?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Acoustic neuroma is uncommon. Fewer than &lt;strong&gt;1 in 20,000 people&lt;/strong&gt; are diagnosed each year. The risk increases with age, and the condition is more frequently diagnosed in older adults. Most tumours affect &lt;strong&gt;only one ear&lt;/strong&gt; (unilateral), while tumours affecting both ears are rare and usually linked to a genetic condition.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Symptoms of Acoustic Neuroma&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Symptoms often develop &lt;strong&gt;slowly over several years&lt;/strong&gt;, making early signs easy to miss. Most acoustic neuromas grow at a rate of around &lt;strong&gt;1 millimetre per year&lt;/strong&gt;, although growth rates vary, and some tumours may remain stable for long periods.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Symptoms occur when the tumour presses on nearby nerves, including:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;vestibulocochlear nerve&lt;/strong&gt; (hearing and balance)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;facial nerve&lt;/strong&gt; (facial movement)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;trigeminal nerve&lt;/strong&gt; (facial sensation)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;As the tumour grows, symptoms may become more noticeable or worsen.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Common Symptoms Include:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hearing loss&lt;/strong&gt;, usually gradual and affecting one ear more than the other&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Balance problems or unsteadiness&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dizziness or vertigo&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Facial numbness&lt;/strong&gt;, and rarely, facial weakness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Acoustic neuromas typically &lt;strong&gt;do not cause headaches, memory problems or neck pain&lt;/strong&gt;, which are more commonly associated with other brain tumours. These symptoms usually appear only if the tumour becomes large enough to affect surrounding brain structures.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;In rare cases, a large acoustic neuroma may compress the &lt;strong&gt;brainstem&lt;/strong&gt;, which can be life-threatening.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hearing Loss and Acoustic Neuroma&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Hearing loss caused by an acoustic neuroma is classified as &lt;strong&gt;sensorineural hearing loss&lt;/strong&gt;, meaning it results from damage to the inner ear or the hearing nerve rather than blockage or infection.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Key features include:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Hearing loss in &lt;strong&gt;one ear only&lt;/strong&gt; in around &lt;strong&gt;90% of cases&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Difficulty hearing &lt;strong&gt;high-pitched sounds&lt;/strong&gt; first&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Gradual worsening over time, though sudden hearing loss can rarely occur&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;People may notice that they:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Rely more on one ear during conversations&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Struggle to follow speech in noisy environments&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Find it difficult to identify where sounds are coming from&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Feel that voices sound muffled or unclear&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Experience ongoing tinnitus&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Even if the tumour is not actively growing, hearing loss often continues to progress.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Causes of Acoustic Neuroma&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;In most cases, the &lt;strong&gt;exact cause is unknown&lt;/strong&gt;. However, research suggests that acoustic neuromas develop due to a malfunction in a gene on &lt;strong&gt;chromosome 22&lt;/strong&gt;, which normally helps regulate the growth of Schwann cells. When this gene does not function properly, these cells can grow uncontrollably and form a tumour.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Genetic Causes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;A small number of cases are linked to &lt;strong&gt;NF2-related schwannomatosis&lt;/strong&gt; (previously known as neurofibromatosis type 2). People with this rare genetic condition often develop &lt;strong&gt;vestibular schwannomas on both sides of the head&lt;/strong&gt; (bilateral acoustic neuromas) and may also develop tumours on other nerves.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Risk Factors&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;only confirmed risk factor&lt;/strong&gt; for acoustic neuroma is &lt;strong&gt;NF2-related schwannomatosis&lt;/strong&gt;, which is inherited in an &lt;strong&gt;autosomal dominant&lt;/strong&gt; pattern. This means each child of an affected parent has a &lt;strong&gt;50% chance&lt;/strong&gt; of inheriting the condition.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Noise Exposure&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Some studies suggest that &lt;strong&gt;long-term exposure to loud noise&lt;/strong&gt; may slightly increase the risk of developing an acoustic neuroma. However, the overall risk remains low, and further research is ongoing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Possible Complications&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Complications depend on the size of the tumour and whether it is treated.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Common Complications:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Permanent hearing loss in one ear&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Chronic tinnitus&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Balance difficulties or unsteadiness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;More Serious Complications (Large or Untreated Tumours):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Facial numbness or weakness&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Head pressure or headaches&lt;/strong&gt; due to brainstem compression&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ataxia&lt;/strong&gt;, causing walking difficulties&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hydrocephalus&lt;/strong&gt;, a build-up of fluid in the brain that increases pressure inside the skull&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Rarely, &lt;strong&gt;swallowing or voice changes&lt;/strong&gt; if lower cranial nerves are affected&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;In people with NF2, tumours may occur on both sides, increasing the risk of hearing loss in both ears.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Treatment Options for Acoustic Neuroma&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Treatment depends on the &lt;strong&gt;size of the tumour&lt;/strong&gt;, symptoms, growth rate, age and overall health.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Common Treatment Approaches Include:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Active monitoring (watchful waiting)&lt;/strong&gt; with regular MRI scans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Radiotherapy&lt;/strong&gt;, such as stereotactic radiosurgery, to stop tumour growth&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Surgical removal&lt;/strong&gt;, particularly for larger or symptomatic tumours&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Management is usually overseen by a &lt;strong&gt;multidisciplinary team&lt;/strong&gt;, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, ENT specialists and audiologists.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;When to See a Doctor&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;You should seek medical advice if you experience:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Hearing loss in one ear&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Persistent ringing in the ear&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Balance problems or unexplained dizziness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Early diagnosis allows for &lt;strong&gt;more treatment options&lt;/strong&gt; and may help prevent complications such as permanent hearing loss or nerve damage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Key Takeaways&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) is a &lt;strong&gt;slow-growing but potentially serious condition&lt;/strong&gt;. While it is benign, early recognition and specialist care are essential to protect hearing, balance and overall neurological health.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma): Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

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