What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma)?

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat;  Hearing / Deafness
Article Date: 21 Apr 2010 - 0:00 PDT


As the tumor presses on the cranial nerves more signs and symptoms of Acoustic Neurona or Vestibular Schwannoma will emerge.

A symptom is something the patient experiences and describes, such as nausea or vertigo, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor or caregiver detect, such as a rash.

The signs and symptoms of acoustic neuroma may include:

• Loss of hearing - the majority of patients with acoustic neuroma have some kind of hearing loss, which develops gradually (sometimes abruptly). The problem usually affects just one ear.
• Earache
• Tingling, pain or numbness in the face - as the pressure on the nerve which controls the feeling and sensation in the face increase, so do these symptoms
• Headaches - if the tumor blocks cerebrospinal fluid flow there may be headaches. However, headaches are rare.
• Dizziness, loss of balance
• Vision problems - if cerebrospinal fluid blockage occurs there may be problems with eyesight. However, this is uncommon.
• Tinnitus - high-pitched ringing, usually in just one ear. This symptom appears in about 70% of patients.
• Loss of taste - the back half of the tongue can lose its sense of taste

If the tumor and pressure are large enough, the patient will experience vomiting, nausea, headache and altered consciousness. Tumor size is not always the determinant for severity of symptoms, though. Some patients with small tumors may have heightened signs and symptoms. In the majority of cases, however, if the tumor is less than 1.5 centimeters (6/10 of an inch) long, there are no symptoms. A tumor may grow to over 6 centimeters (2.5 inches) long.

Early diagnosis may help keep the tumor small.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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