Acoustic Neuroma

[Teresa]

Anyone have any personal experience with this? It's a benign brain tumor. First evidence of this is hearing loss on one side (instead of general hearing loss in both ears). Also some loss of balance. MRI is used to determine if this is the problem. Would like to hear treatment experience(s) of others.

 

[Cathy in Boston]

I have a friend who was diagnosed with this back in I believe 1987 or 1988. He had the tumor removed, and had to have regular checkups for quite a while, but not anymore. He's active, healthy and doing just great. He does not hear out of one ear, but it doesn't seem to slow him down at all.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Beaglemom3]

Teresa,
I worked many years in neurology at Mass General Hospital. We had a very high success rate with acoustic neuroma patients.

I see that you are in Ohio and have the great Cleveland Clinic. Also, you are in traveling distance to the Mayo. If surgery is indicated (and it almost always is), go to the hospital with the highest success rate and of course, the ones you can afford or your insurance will cover.

Please feel free to PM me and I will give you my home phone number if you'd like to talk.

You will get through this.

Beags (N.P.)

 

[arlene22]

My BIL had one and had it surgically removed. It was very scary at the time, but he has recovered totally (with the exception of his hearing in one ear). Most significant side effect: a new appreciation of life and family!

 

[noson7982]

ANA Acoustic Neuroma Associations

My wife had an Acoustic Neuroma removed in 1981. She recovered nicely with only a few annoyances. She was one the first members of ANA a wonderful support group.

http://www.anausa.org/

It was a scary time but all worked out well. Now the with the advances in surgery the results have been even more successful.

Bob

 

[MULTIZ321]

Teresa,

I second the Acoustic Neuroma Association recommended by Bob - very good group.

Hearing in the involved ear is often partially compromised because of the tumor and subsequently lost as a result of the surgery. However, there are some professional groups that try to preserve hearing if possible. Intra-operative monitoring of the auditory nerve is done with Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) equipment. The outcome can be partial rather than complete hearing loss in the involved ear.

The Auditory Nerve travels through the internal auditory canal (IAC) on its way to the auditory cortex portion of the brain. Where the nerve exits the IAC is known as the cerebello-pontine angle (CPA). It is in this area that the tumor usually starts - it may of may not grow into the IAC. The Auditory Nerve (aka the 8th Cranial Nerve) actually has 2 branches - the Auditory Branch and the Vestibular Branch (which innervates the vestibular system to control your sense of balance) - they are in close proximity as they course through the IAC and CPA. The outer covering of the nerve fibers are schwan cells and are the cells affected by the tumor. Sometimes just the vestibular
branch is involved and the tumor is also known as a Vestibular Schwannoma,
sometimes just the auditory branch is involved and sometimes both. The vestibular branch involvement can lead to some disequilibrium and disruption of balance.

Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland - their ENT/Audiology Clinics are great resources.

The House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles pioneered Acoustic Neuroma Surgery and Treatment - http://www.houseearclinic.com/
They are also a great resource.


Good Luck,
Richard