Return of Hearing

[WilliamS]

This morning I had my first hearing test since January of 2012.  The reason for the test was to make sure that my right ear hearing continued to be 100%.  At the time of my last hearing test my left ear word recognition was 4% and that was what led to an MRI and my acoustic neuroma diagnosis.  The surprise this morning was that my left ear word recognition had improved to 60% and the ENT said that if that holds I could be fitted for a left ear hearing aid to replace the cross system that I currently use. My question is - has anyone that has had Gama Knife had this experience or is it likely that the test results were a fluke?

[arizonajack]

I can't recall reading about a hearing recovery like that from next to nothing, especially considering the size of your AN.

I've been SSD on the AN side since before my GK and my AN was only 3mm x 4mm x 9mm when I was diagnosed.

Congratulations. A recovery like that is amazing.

[ANGuy]

I have not had any treatment, but I can tell you that the volume and quality of the hearing in my AN ear varies from lousy to pretty darn good on a regular basis.  This is documented in hearing tests taken two weeks apart and by my own observations based on my sophisticated finger in the good ear test.  The improvement you are experiencing could be permanent, it could improve further, or it is possible it could get worse based on my own experiences.

[PaulW]

My hearing has varied greatly... from nearly totally useless shortly after Cyberknife, to nearly back to how it was pre symptoms...
My hearing reached its best about 12 months after CK. It seems to be on a slow but fluctating decline still...
But I still have 100% word descrimination  and can still use a telephone with my bad ear.

[Echo]

At my 6 month post GK test, my word recognition had dropped to 20%.  I just had my 12 month post GK test and my word recognition has gone up to 40%.  I'm not expecting any great improvement and it will most likely decline over time, however, GK has allowed me to retain my hearing longer than if I had chosen surgery, and for that I am grateful.  I have to add that my good ear is not great, so I've been wearing the Phonak BiCros for the past 7 months with great success!

Cathie

[joyce04]

Cathie,
Your experience sounds wonderful. It is very encouraging.  I'm a newbie here- considering gamma knife instead of surgery.
I would like to retain as much of my residual hearing as possible.  My hearing in one ear has decreased significantly over the past two years.  I'm glad I went for to the audiologist for a recheck-although it took me two years to go back.  I have an asymmetrical bilateral hearing loss. 
Ironically, I work in a related field-I have seen many children with similar audiograms.  So, I did not see the urgency to go for an MRI.   i currently use Widex bilateral aids.  Love them!

[KeepSmiling]

That is fantastic that the hearing returned!

[Kat From Indiana]

Bill,
Very encouraging news! So happy for you and hopeful for the rest of us.  I am 6 month post GK and my hearing is almost gone in the AN ear.  I plan to get the Cross with an Audeo V. 

[cagneyd]

I too had an improvement in hearing. Was down to about 30% remaining and it is now up to about 50% after 6 months after GK. My tumor had shrunk about 10 - 15 % and showing necrosis in the center of the tumor. Going for a hearing aid tomorrow morning.

[ampeep]

It's great to hear of folks getting improved hearing post-GK!  At 2 months post-GK my hearing went down to zero - 11 months later I can now hear some sounds but that's it. 

[Guitarmn50]

My latest MRI on 5-1 indicates that the tumor is shrinking, and, indeed, my left side hearing is ever so slightly improving.  It's still lousy, and I still have the constant tinnitus, but my equilibrium is much better now then it has been in a long time.  However, lately I've been getting that head wonkiness people often talk about.  Sucks !  Maybe it's just because I'm getting older     Can't stop dreaming either !  It's like my brain is going full steam 24/7 !  And, I drive for a living, too !   Maybe it's Aleve PM ?   I've been taking that for about six months...might be catching up with me, so I cut that off last night and barely slept at all...of course I'm wide awake right now. 

[ampeep]

The other day I was able to understand a recorded message on the phone for the first time after totally losing my hearing a few months post GK!  My hearing had slowly getting better but never thought it would get to this point.