Acoustic Neuroma

Symptoms

Symptoms vary with the size and location of the tumor and may include:

• Hearing loss — In more than 90 percent of patients with an acoustic neuroma, the first symptom is a reduction in hearing in one ear. The hearing loss is usually subtle and gets worse very slowly.
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Dizziness (vertigo)
• Difficulty in balance — Because the tumor usually comes from the nerve which is responsible for balance, unsteadiness or balance problems may be one of the earlier symptoms.
• Fullness or pressure in the ears
• Facial numbness or paralysis (for very large tumors) — As the tumor grows larger and starts pressing over other nerves, facial sensation may be affected. Numbness and facial tingling, constantly or intermittently, and facial tics or spasms may appear.

Less common symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Difficulty understanding speech (out of proportion to total hearing loss)
• Dizziness
• Numbness in the face or one ear
• Pain in the face or one ear
• Short periods of vision abnormalities