Overview

Type of disease: Rare conditions

Acoustic neuroma, also referred to as vestibular schwannoma, is a noncancerous tumor that grows on the main nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain. This tumor is slow-growing, leading to gradual hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), unsteadiness, vertigo, facial numbness, facial weakness, and poor balance. This condition appears to be caused by a malfunctioning gene on chromosome 22. The cause of this gene malfunction is unknown.