Acoustic Neuroma Association
600 Peachtree Parkway
Suite 108
Cumming, GA 30041

Acoustic Neuroma Patient Stories

Read stories from the ANA community and share your own acoustic neuroma story to help inspire others.

Did Daniel Boone (1734-1820) have an Acoustic Neuroma? 
By Richard J. Barker

Richard J. Barker is Professor of History Emeritus at Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, NJ. He was one of the founder-members of the Acoustic Neuroma Association of NJ (ANA/NJ) in 1995 and served for many years as editor of the ANA/NJ Newsletter.

Acoustic Neuroma Diagnosis at Two-Weeks Postpartum

Stacy Leverty

When I was six weeks pregnant, I had 90% hearing loss in my left ear. My ENT wanted to do an MRI but decided to wait due to the baby. In the meantime, I took Prednisone and had some success and some hearing did return.  My ENT suspected a tumor, and in July 2021, when I was two weeks postpartum, I was diagnosed with a 1.7 cm AN.

PARENTING WITH HEARING LOSS

Emily Truell
ANA Peer Mentor and Support Group Leader
*Reprinted with permission from HLAA*

I was 27 when I realized I couldn’t understand phone calls if I used my left ear. I told my primary doctor, who scheduled a battery of tests. After hearing exams, audiology and otolaryngology appointments and an MRI, I was diagnosed with a 3cm acoustic neuroma (or vestibular schwannoma), a non-cancerous brain tumor. At that point, I’d already lost significant hearing in my left ear, and surgery to remove the brain tumor resulted in single-sided deafness.

 

Moving Forward After Acoustic Neuroma Interrupted Our Plans for A Family

Kelly Stedman

In January 2020, I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma after failing an audiogram. I was 31 years old. My husband and I planned to have kids, so I decided to have Translab surgery in October.  Though my tumor was fully removed, I was left single-sided deaf with permanent facial paralysis and synkinesis.

 

ONE LAST UNEXPECTED CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Oscar Gonzalez de las Cuevas
Spain

On January 27th 2020 , I was diagnosed with something that I had never heard of – a 1.9 cm acoustic neuroma. Although a benign tumor, my ENT made it clear there could be a downside. The tumor’s location could potentially cause a variety of symptoms.

Reach Out

To connect with any of the patients featured, please contact ANA at 678-331-5369 or email volunteers@ANAUSA.org.

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Note: In no case does ANA endorse any commercial products, surgeon, medical procedure, medical institution, or its staff.

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