Acoustic Neuroma Patient Stories
Read stories from the ANA community and share your own acoustic neuroma story to help inspire others.
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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.
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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.
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Finding Information and Support After Misdiagnosis
By Elizabeth Kauermann
In the fall of 2019, a clogged ear and reduced hearing were treated unsuccessfully with Flonase and allergy medication by my ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician. After also developing a numb tongue, I decided to seek out another ENT to find answers, and hopefully a more successful treatment solution.
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Rapid Decrease in Hearing Led to AN Diagnosis
By Rob Landis
It was the summer of 2013, between my sophomore and junior years of college. I was making plans for the summer to hang out with my friends, take some vacations, and work part-time to earn some extra money. Unfortunately, all of this was put on hold very suddenly. At the age of 20, I learned I had an acoustic neuroma.
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Life Can Change in an Instant
Jerikah Cato
One morning I woke up with constant ringing in my left ear. I didn’t think anything of it and mentioned it to my primary doctor a few months later. She asked if I had any vertigo and I remembered having episodes in the past. I also told her about my migraines which I’d had for years.
I saw an ENT soon after and my hearing test revealed significant hearing loss in my left ear which led to an MRI. I viewed the CD of my MRI scan and saw a large mass and my heart sank. As I waited for my next ENT appointment, my mind was racing in many directions thinking about how my life was about to change.
