Gradual hearing loss can sometimes be caused by a small benign tumour called an Acoustic Neuroma.

Located: The tumor begins near the entrance to the internal auditory canal and grows into the petrous bone as well as more internally towards the brainstem. In some people, they can be quite large before they become detected.

Cause: No known cause. They develop very slowly over time, often taking several years to finally cause any symptoms.

Symptoms: unilateral hearing loss, ringing in the ear, balance problems, difficulty adjusting your eyes.

Treatment: “watchful waiting,” surgery, or localized radiation.

Within the past several years, stereotactic radiosurgery, or Gamma Knife, has become the preferred method of treatment for many of these tumors. Sometimes, these tumors are found incidentally, during routine testing for other types of neurologic diseases or problems (headaches, head injuries, etc.). Not all people who have acoustic neuromas develop symptoms, nor do all patients need to be treated.

For more detail in an article by Sandra Brettler, registered nurse at Penn State Hershey Neurosurgery, click here.