Description and Possible Medical Problems

Any type of hearing loss will frighten most anyone, but when you also feel as though like the room is spinning, it’s time to call your doctor. You may be suffering from acoustic neuroma, a condition in which a noncancerous tumor grows between the inner ear and the brain. Because the tumor is benign and grows slowly, some physicians suggest you don’t need to act on it right away. However, as the tumor grows, it may put pressure on your nervous system and the brain.

If you should lose part of your hearing in only one ear, ask yourself the following questions so you can communicate the answers to your doctor:

1. How long have I been unable to hear in one ear?

2. Do I hear a constant ringing or buzzing?

3. Have I felt dizzy lately?

Acoustic neuronoma is diagnosed with a CAT scan of the brain. Because it’s important to prevent the benign tumor from growing and putting pressure on a number of vital brain structures, surgery is the only treatment. Fortunately, removal of the tumor is performed with microsurgical techniques that have been proven quite effective and don’t cause any severe complications.

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