What is Vestibular Schwannoma?
Vestibular schwannoma or acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous and slow growing tumour that develops on the main nerve leading to the brain from inner ear. As the branches of the nerve have a direct influence on the balance and hearing, a pressure caused by acoustic neuroma can lead to hearing loss, ringing in your ear and unsteadiness.
What are the Symptoms of Vestibular Schwannoma?
When the tumour presses the adjacent nerves, nearby vessels or brain structures, the signs and symptoms of acoustic neuroma start to develop. The size of the tumour does not cause significant effects on the on the signs and symptoms. A person may experience the following signs and symptoms.
Gradual hearing loss. In some cases it may be sudden and may be more significant on one side than the other
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- Ringing sound in the ear
- Dizziness
- Facial numbness and weakness
Diagnosis for Vestibular Schwannoma
To diagnose the problem, the doctor may make you undergo the following tests:
Hearing test or audiometry: This test is conducted by a hearing specialist. In this the person is made to hear sounds directly to one ear at a time.
Scans: An MRI or computerized topography scans of the head can provide images that confirm the development of an acoustic neuroma.
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Read more on Vestibular Schwannoma Diagnosis and Prognosis.