what does first stage of hearing loss feel like?

[jewel01]

I would like to know what some of you experienced with the affected ear, or hearing nerve prior to knowing you had an AN.

I have a hypoglossal schwannoma on the left and my left ear feels full all of the time. It feels like it is plugged. I will hold my nose
and blow to see if it will open it up and it does for about a nano second and feels full again. Sometimes I have a discomfort in the ear, but not painful by no means.  The left side of my tongue is affected and I am wondering if it is because my tongue does not
close on the left when I swallow.  I know that the hearing nerve is in close proximity to the 12th cranial nerve so wondering if related. 
Any input is appreciated.

Thanks for this wonderful site.

Julie Wachter

[Mark]

Julie,

My only symptom in addition to gradual high frequency hearing loss was a full feeling in the ear. Nothing painful, just like it wouldn't clear when I swallowed. Since I had my CK treatment that feeling has pretty much disappeared, I assume because the amount of shrinkage in the AN reduced pressure in the ear, but that's only a guess on my part. I have noticed that I am more prone to sinus infections on the AN side, so I also don't rule out that the full feeling was associated with those issues. However, since it was pretty constant before treatment and very infrequent since I tend to go with the AN as the original cause.

Mark

[russ]

Hi Jewel
  You have described 'aural fullness' very well. It is common.
  In general, acoustic neuroma presents first with a low frequency loss. Menieres Disease, a high frequency loss.
  A sustained hearing loss will often be accompanied by tinnitus ( ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, etc. sound in the ear )
  Russ

[jewel01]

Thanks for your responses to my question regarding hearing problems.  I actually went to see just a regular clinical doctor today because I had been having a sharp type of pain on the left side of my throat and had her check my left ear just to "be sure" that there was no inflamation or redness. She assured me that the tube and inner ear looked fine and that I had better get a follow up with a specialist regarding my diagnosis.  My constant sore throat and hoarseness is something else she said was probably from my brain issues. She said "sorry there isn't anything I can do for this. Darn!!! Well at least I know that I have to head back to Madison, Wi. to see if they have a Neurologist that will handle some of my care until I decide whether or not I really need to go to
Pittsburgh to see Dr. Janetta for the vertebral artery issue.  Some days I just can't believe these things are happening.
I know that Dr. Brackmann wants me to have I believe it is called an EENG?? and a vestibular work up and then have the results sent to him. Then they will decide what needs to be done.  As he stated to me, "I am a very complicated case".

Russ, I do have a high pitched ring in my ear at times, but not every day or all day just at certain times.  I think I should get my ears tested for any hearing loss that I may not even be noticing. Hum!!

choosing peace,
jewels

[jamie]

Finally somebody else with the same problem as me! I too have a lower cranial nerve schwannoma, hard to tell from MRI exactly what nerve, but our symptoms are almost exactly the same. I had the full feeling, but no hearing loss, which I could blow air and clear. I also had an earache/stabbing pain in throat. I haven't had any swallowing issues, and my vocal chords are fine per the tube down throat test, lol. After CyberKnife, the full feeling is alot less noticeable, and the constant earache has gone away. I still get some shooting pains, but that is associated with post treatment swelling, I just finished CK 8-31-05, and ibuprofen takes care of the pain fine, no steroids necessary.

[jewel01]

Jamie I would be further interested in what types of symptoms and how the Doctors came about finding your lower
based schwannoma.  I would love to compare notes with you.

If you feel comfortable about emailing me privately my email is jewel01@mhtc.net


Julie W.

[matti]

The constant feeling of pressure and fullness were my initial symptoms and then I would get very sharp stabbing pains in my affected ear that would literally stop me in my tracks. My hearing was perfect, but when I would lay down on my "bad ear", every so often, I would completely lose the hearing in that ear for 30 to 60 seconds. I also seemed to have alot of sore throats, without having a cold. Was told it was just allergies.

The wierd thing was that when I was doing all my pre-op testing, the test that measured balance where they blow the air into your ears (can't remember the name), completely unclogged my bad ear and for the first time in 5 years, I had no pressure or fullness. That great feeling lasted 3 days...then I had surgery. Pressure was finally gone, but so was my hearing.

matti

[jw]

Hi,

My hearing loss started (at least became noticeable) in 1999 when I found I couldn't tell who was on the phone listening in my rt. ear.  I went for a hearing test and there was a notch at 4000 Hz, but it was otherwise ok.  It got progressively worse until 2004 when I went for another test aound found my high-frequency hearing was very bad.  I got a hearing aid, but it seemed to not be working as well as it did.  In Jan 2005 I developed tinnitus and in Aug 2005 my hearing aid just wansn't working.  I sent it in for repair, but went to another audiologist for a 2nd opinion.  My hearing had decreased even more, but the 2nd audiologist raised serious concerns about my asymetrical hearing loss and referred me for an MRI through my family Dr.  I get that done on Monday, so I don't know if I have an AN yet.