concerned about AN

[druidul34]

Hey

With all due respect for all people around here stuggling with AN, I need to ask some questions.

I have one-sided tinnitus, right ear.
High-pitched.
Went to ENT - he said normal hearing, but advised for MRI, due to asymmetrical hearing loss.

I don't feel my hearing is worse on the right side though.

No other symptoms.

Few details :

 - it began 3 months ago or at least at that time I became aware of it.
 - I had some nights with poor sleep at work, someone yelled at me, from close range (I work in a hospital)
 - I don't know, whether is my brain, who wants me believe, its not only on the right ear, but sometimes I feel it more centered and I get transient tinnitus on left ear as well, but it's no doubt, much more clear and present on the right ear.
 - when I had audiogram, it was after 4 hrs sleep and my tinnitus was pretty loud and I made some guessing, I remember.

I attach my audiogram.

Is it really so big the asymmetrical hearing? Is a rather big fall at 4Hz. no? I see left ear at 8Hz at 5 dB then plunges to 30 dB at 8Hz?

I am very afraid of acoustic neuroma, despite low probability?

[druidul34]

How do I attach jpeg files?

[heartspoof]

Your symptoms (one-sided tinnitus and slight asymmetry) justify an MRI, but this is just a precaution. The hearing drop at high frequency (8 kHz) is common and not strongly suspicious for acoustic neuroma.
You also lack typical warning signs like balance issues or progressive hearing loss. Overall, the probability of a tumor is low, but MRI is the right step to rule it out.

[Bufoeal]

Hey

With all due respect for all people around here stuggling with AN, I need to ask some questions.

I have one-sided tinnitus, right ear.
High-pitched.
Went to ENT - he said normal hearing, but advised for MRI, due to asymmetrical hearing loss.

I don't feel my hearing is worse on the right side though.

No other symptoms.

Few details :

 - it began 3 months ago or at least at that time I became aware of it.
 - I had some nights with poor sleep at work, someone yelled at me, from close range (I work in a hospital)
 - I don't know, whether is my brain, who wants me believe, its not only on the right ear, but sometimes I feel it more centered and I get transient tinnitus on left ear as well, but it's no doubt, much more clear and present on the right ear.
 - when I had audiogram, fnf it was after 4 hrs sleep and my tinnitus was pretty loud and I made some guessing, I remember.

I attach my audiogram.

Is it really so big the asymmetrical hearing? Is a rather big fall at 4Hz. no? I see left ear at 8Hz at 5 dB then plunges to 30 dB at 8Hz?

I am very afraid of acoustic neuroma, despite low probability?

Honestly, your ENT recommending an MRI for one sided tinnitus is pretty standard and doesn’t automatically mean they strongly suspect an acoustic neuroma. A mild asymmetry at high frequencies is actually fairly common, especially after noise exposure or poor sleep, and your lack of balance problems or noticeable progressive hearing loss is reassuring.

[druidul34]

Hi again.

I still avoid MRI - as I am very anxious.

However, a short update.

I did a new AD, in september 2025, which showed normal hearing at all frequencies.The gap at 4kHz from previous AD disappeared.I do not remember now the exact values, but everything was between 5 and 25 dB, among all frequencies.And no asymmetry larger than 5 - 10 dB.

It was other ENT and, while we discussed about AN, she told me that nothing on my AD suggested AN, but she advised me to take a new AD, 6 months after - it would have been in march this year, but I cancelled, as my tinnitus was/is pretty loud and, as anxious I can be, I am afraid of poor AD.

I do not have other symptoms whatsover and no subjective hearing loss on the affected ear.We are now near August 2026 and I first noticed tinnitus in mid May last year.

Tinnitus is clearly high pitch, it can be very loud, but does not have any impact on my daily life, other than the constant fear of AN.

But I want to take a new AD soon and, should my anxiety not fade, I think I need a closure and agree to take MRI.

First AD in July 25

4 kHZ Left ear 5 dB Right ear 30 dB
8 kHz Left ear  30 db Right ear 40 dB

Second AD in September 25

Freq (Hz):          250 |   500 |    1000 |    2000 |  3000 |  4000 | 6000 |  8000   
Right ear (dB):     5       10          0          5          -5        15       20         15
Left ear (dB):       5         0           5        -5           0        10       15         15

[Mark F.]

Easier said than done, but try to remember that an AN diagnosis is not the end of the world.  Like the others have said, without other symptoms it would seem pretty unlikely, but even if it were to turn out positive, you would most likely fall into the category of those who they just monitor.   It takes a large tumor, or a very symptomatic small one before any action is usually taken.  If you are not claustrophobic, the MRI machine really isn't that bad.  It's a little uncomfortable but there a lots of things worse.  I was anxious my first time in the MRI.  But after that first time of just not knowing what to expect, now it's just an inconvenience and not a source of anxiety.   

[DanFouratt]

When I was going through the discovery process on doctor told me it I can afford it just get the MRI so you know.  He did say it was not a requirement but it was his suggestion. I had one and yes I have an AN (AS). With that information I could make a plan.

Good luck on your journey,

Dan