I'm a newbie, just one week diagnosed so I don't know much but have been reading everything I can! I have to agree with "arizonajack" who said if you still had hearing then he wouldn't wait for treatment as it can go quickly. In November, 2012, I noticed that my hearing seemed diminshed in my right ear. I noticed it when I talked on the phone. ENT thought it was allergy related and the audiogram showed almost normal hearing. I told him it might show as normal but it wasn't normal for me! He prescribed allergy medication and scheduled me for another audiogram in 3 months. In Februrary, that audiogram showed my hearing had deteriorated greatly to almost nothing! It was then that he sent me for the MRI which showed the AN. Depending on where the AN is located I think your hearing can go fast so if I had decent hearing I wouldn't wait. Just my thought.