An Acoustic Neuroma is a benign tumour of the 8th cranial nerve. Usually the symptoms are very slight initially and if the diagnosis is made of a small tumour it may be possible to monitor it for many years.

The only need to remove is when it presses upon vital tissue and produces symptoms other than deafness. For example:

• Facial numbness (cranial nerve 5)
• Facial weakness (cranial nerve 7)
• Dizziness and vertigo (cranial nerve 8)

If life-threatening pressure occurs the tumour needs to be removed immediately.

The facial symptoms vary and fall into 3 main groups:

• Facial paralysis present before surgery.
• Paralysis immediately after surgery.
• Normal face eye closure after surgery. Onset of symptoms a few days later.

Immediately following surgery eyecare is usually at the back of your mind, please don’t ignore it at this early stage.

The facial nerve needs electrical testing and if it is growing back does just as well as the Bells Palsy. It may be a little slower as there is much more to recover but every day is one day better.