Understanding Acoustic Neuroma and Tinnitus
An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor that grows on the vestibulocochlear nerve (also called acoustic or auditory nerve), which is the nerve responsible for transmitting auditory information from the inner ears to the brain. This nerve is also known as the 8th cranial nerve, and is the hearing and balance nerve. Hence, a tumor on this nerve can cause hearing and balance problems. A growing benign tumor on the acoustic nerve can lead to unilateral hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Hence, acoustic neuroma and tinnitus can occur at the same time.
Acoustic neuroma can be also called vestibular schwannoma. Compared to other causes of hearing loss, it is relatively an uncommon one. The tumor grows slowly in usual cases, but in rare cases the tumor grows rapidly. A rapidly growing tumor on the nerve can exert pressure on surrounding tissues and organs like the brain. When it presses against the brain, it disrupts the important functions of the affected part. The symptoms arise as the neighboring structures, nerves, brain tissue, and blood vessels are affected. However, the tumor does not need to grow in size for symptoms to manifest. Even a relatively small tumor can give rise to significant symptoms.
Symptoms of acoustic neuroma are hearing loss, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, vertigo or dizziness, and facial numbness or weakness. The hearing loss associated with acoustic neuroma and tinnitus is usually more pronounced on one side or only occurs on one side. The development of hearing impairment in people with the disorder is gradual. Tinnitus is also on one side only or more obvious on one ear. The growth of tumor on the vestibulocochlear nerve disrupts signals that register balance on the brain. As a result patients suffer from loss of balance. Facial numbness, on the other hand, is a result of the tumor pressing against the trigeminal nerve. Rarely, the tumor can grow too big that it causes life-threatening pressure to the brainstem.
There is no need to wait for the symptoms to become worse before you seek doctor’s attention. Once you suffer from muffled hearing on one ear, ringing in one ear, and vertigo or dizziness, you have to see your doctor. Consider going to your doctor even more if you are suffering from these symptoms often. Even though the disorder rarely is life-threatening, it still needs to be seen and monitored. This way, the symptoms can be managed more appropriately.
How the tumor develops remains vague, but experts point out that it has something to do with a genetic mutation. The frequency of such tumors occurring in the population is meager. Only from ten to thirteen people in every one million have the problem, but there is no precise data on this. Studies also suggest that the disorder is not inherited. In other words, it occurs randomly among people.
It seems that many disorders involving the structures in the inner ears are hard to understand. Acoustic neuroma and tinnitus are two conditions that are difficult to understand. Tinnitus is just one of the symptoms of a tumor growing on the acoustic nerve, but it can also appear as a symptom of other disorders like temporomandibular joint misalignment or Meniere’s disease. The cure for tinnitus depends on the primary disorder that causes it. If it is caused by acoustic neuroma, then this disorder should be treated.
There are different ways to treat and manage acoustic neuroma. The simplest way to treat it is by plain monitoring to find out if it is growing rapidly or not. Such benign tumor does not usually grow fast, but there are cases when it develops rapidly and cause drastic symptoms. Monitoring is done through imaging and hearing tests which are done once or twice a year. The aim is to observe the growth rate of the tumor and to check the rate at which hearing impairment proceeds.
A type of treatment for acoustic neuroma involves the use of gamma radiation. It is called stereotactic radiosurgery, which is a method that delivers radiation to the tumor. There is no need to make an incision. Instead, a doctor uses imaging scans and directs radiation beams to the tumor. This option can work if your tumor is small, and it may also be used to acoustic neuroma in people who do not need invasive surgical procedure. However, it takes time for this procedure to take effect, and there are risks, too, such as hearing loss, balance problems, and facial weakness.
In dire cases, the tumor on the nerve should be removed surgically. Doctors try their best to remove the tumor without affecting the facial nerve to avoid facial paralysis. Utmost care is exercised to limit the damage done to the nerve itself. Damaged acoustic nerve can lead to deafness. The patient needs to stay in the hospital for about a week. Recuperation takes more than a month. This one has worse risks due to the greater chances of structures being affected during the surgery. Sometimes, instead of alleviating the problem it worsens it. Doctors should explain to their patients the possible complications of the operation.
People with acoustic neuroma and tinnitus should be able to deal with the discomfort and the bothersome symptoms. Reading information about this condition is important in knowing it. Aside from that, you can also get information from your own doctor and from other patients as well.
Tinnitus Cure – What Can Stop The Noise In Your Ears?
Our ears are very sensitive and that is one fact that all of us should understand. Unfortunately, we continue to do several things that result to different kinds of ear problems. Aside from hearing loss, tinnitus is one of the most dreaded ear conditions today. Millions of people around the world are already suffering from it and are continuously searching for an effective tinnitus cure. For those who have tinnitus and who want to know about the tinnitus treatment cures available today, here are some of them.
• Herbal remedies – Gingko Biloba, castor oil, onion juice, sesame and black cohosh are some of the herbal medicines used by tinnitus sufferers to relieve the noise in their ears.
• Homeopathic therapy – this treatment focuses on your tinnitus symptoms rather than on what causes tinnitus and it uses highly dilluted substances to stop ringing in the ears.
• Sound treatment – noise maskers are being used in this kind of treatment. The idea is to help your brain focus on the more desirable noise than on the irritating noise that tinnitus creates.
• Counseling – the main goal of this tinnitus treatment option is to help you understand your condition better and to help you cope with it emotionally and psychologically.
• Tinnitus medications – this is a conventional ears ringing cure which uses medications like anti depressant drugs, Lidocaine and antihistamines.
There are many other kinds of treatments that can help you relieve tinnitus. But you must always keep in mind that it is very important to identify and cure what causes your tinnitus for you to be able to totally get rid of it.
Tinnitus FAQ Webinar – Get Your Questions Answered
We will be holding an exclusive tinnitus FAQ webinar where you can get all your questions answered by Ellen. This is a great opportunity for you to not only get your questions answered but you will also benefit from hearing other questions from members of our community.
If you do have any questions please click the link below and take a super short survey:
- Here is the link: Tinnitus FAQ Webinar Survey
We will be answering all the questions which are posted in the survey and we will also try and get to some which are posted in the comments section at the bottom of this post so please post your comments and questions below…
Tinnitus and Hypothroidism – The Importance of Knowing the Real Culprit of the Noise in Your Ears
Tinnitus is practically one of the many unwanted ear conditions that affects millions and millions of people around the world. What basically makes this ear problem frightening is the fact that it not necessarily a disease but only an indication that you might be suffering from a mild or serious health problem. One very good example is the relationship between tinnitus and hypothroidism.
When you start hearing the noise that tinnitus brings, you should not immediately look or buy a tinnitus ringing ears cure. Although you may be able to find plenty of materials from the internet when it comes to a tinnitus cure, you should first identify what causes your tinnitus. You should consult a professional in this area and make sure to undergo the right medical tests that can help you get a grip of the disease that actually caused your ears to ring.
Remember that if you want to get rid of tinnitus, you must be able to get rid of what causes it first. Aside from that, as mentioned above, some of these tinnitus causing diseases can be very serious and life threatening such as hypothyroidism. Thus, do not aggravate your condition by the making use of the wrong ears ringing treatment or taking the wrong medication. Be informed about tinnitus and take the right measures to stop it.
How Close to Tinnitus Cure Are You? – Understand Your Treatment Options
For those who have tinnitus, “how close to tinnitus cure am I?” is perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions. This is because of a very simple reason and that is tinnitus basically does not have an accurate cure. However, this fact should never discourage anyone who has tinnitus and who is looking for a tinnitus cure because it does really mean that you cannot relieve this ear problem. The only thing is that finding a tinnitus relief is a trial and error process. There plenty treatment options which you can practically try and some of them are listed below.
• Tinnitus drugs – Lidocaine, antihistamines and anti depressant pills are some of the commonly used conventional medications for tinnitus that doctors normally prescribe depending on the cause of your tinnitus.
• Herbal remedies – apart from conventional medicine, natural remedies have a big say in treating tinnitus. Gingko Biloba is a herbal treatment for tinnitus that has actually helped plenty of tinnitus sufferers.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy – this is a combination of counseling and sound therapy. The basic goal of this treatment is to help you understand your condition and to help you cope with it emotionally and psychologically.
• Traditional practices – one of the most common causes of tinnitus is stress. Traditional practices like yoga will help you relax and get rid of stress.
There are still a lot options which you can consider aside from all of these treatments. But bear in mind that you also have a big role in getting rid of the noise in your ears and that is to take extra precautions like protecting your ears from loud noises and avoiding habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. Help yourself and don’t make your quest for a tinnitus cure futile by doing the things that can worsen your tinnitus.
