Acoustic Neuroma

January 12, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Yuthana Kong, P.A., Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte.

Acoustic neuroma, sometimes also called vestibular schwannoma, is a type of non-cancerous (benign) brain tumor that develops in the nerve tissue inside the inner ear. Although benign, acoustic neuroma can lead to health issues like hearing loss or vertigo.

What Is Acoustic Neuroma?

A neuroma is any tumor or growth made up of nerve cells or tissue. Acoustic neuroma is a kind of brain tumor that develops in the nerves of the inner ear. It occurs in the Schwann cells, which are a type of cell that lines the outside of the nerves. Acoustic neuroma is benign, meaning it is not cancerous. However, it can cause problems with hearing, balance and, in some cases, feeling in the muscles of the face.

Acoustic Neuroma Symptoms

Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) symptoms vary depending on factors such as the tumor’s location and size, as well as how much pressure it is putting on the surrounding tissue. Some common signs and symptoms of acoustic neuroma include:

• Hearing loss, usually in one ear
• Dizziness or a feeling of spinning and lack of balance (vertigo)
• A ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

If an acoustic neuron tumor is larger, it may also cause:

• Headaches that don’t go away
• Blurry vision or double vision
• A loss of sensation in one side of the face
• Balance or coordination problems on one side of the body
• Issues with swallowing

Causes and Risk Factors

Doctors don’t yet know the exact causes of acoustic neuroma. However, there are some risk factors that may make it more likely someone could develop the disease, including:

• Having a rare genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 2
• Exposure over time to noise related to certain hobbies or pastimes, although this requires more study

Diagnosis and Testing

Diagnosing acoustic neuroma usually involves specialized tests. Often, the first signs of acoustic neuroma are a ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness or hearing loss in one ear. However, these are common symptoms of many ear health issues. If a doctor suspects a patient may have acoustic neuroma, they will likely recommend:

• A full hearing and balance exam performed by a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat health (an otolaryngologist)
• Scans like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can help detect a tumor and provide information about its size and location

Acoustic Neuroma Treatment

When determining the best treatment options for acoustic neuroma, doctors will take into consideration a patient’s overall health, as well as how big their tumor is and where it is located. Some treatment options for acoustic neuroma include:

Monitoring the tumor regularly using imaging tests. If an acoustic neuroma tumor is not growing in size and is not causing major symptoms, this may be the only treatment that doctors recommend.

Acoustic neuroma surgery to remove the tumor. Surgery to remove a tumor is carried out through an incision in the skull. This approach may be recommended if the tumor is growing in size or already large enough that it is causing significant symptoms.

Stereotactic radiosurgery to kill cancer cells. This procedure uses a targeted beam of radiation to destroy small acoustic neuroma tumors or to remove any remaining cancer cells after surgical treatment.

Who Treats Acoustic Neuroma?

Patients with acoustic neuroma receive care from a team of experts that may include:

• Experts in ear health, such as audiologists and otolaryngologists
• Head and neck cancer experts, who are specialty-trained in diagnosing and treating cancers that affect these parts of the body.
• Medical oncologists, who are experts at diagnosing and treating cancer using a wide range of medications
• Neurosurgeons, who specialize in using advanced surgical techniques to treat cancers that affect the brain and spinal cord
• Diagnostic radiologists, who use imaging techniques to detect and diagnose cancer
• Radiation oncologists, who are trained in the use of radiation therapy approaches to treating cancer
• Supportive medicine providers, who help patients manage the side effects of cancer and its treatment and support their emotional health during and after care

Prognosis

Because most acoustic neuromas grow slowly, the prognosis for many patients is typically good. After treatment, most people undergo regular scans to check that the tumor has not returned or grown any larger. If a patient experiences symptoms such as hearing loss or tinnitus, these may need long-term treatment.