Has anyone retained their hearing after Cyberknife or Gamma Knife treatment?

[Kate B]

My question is to find out how many on this site actually retained usable or serviceable hearing after radiation treatment according to Gardner-Robertson? (see definitions below).  If not, when did you lose your hearing?

Hearing preservation has three defined states:
maintenance of hearing within the same hearing class,
preservation of hearing at a "useful" or "serviceable" level (Gardner-Robertson score of 1 or 2), and
maintenance of some measureable hearing function.

[ppearl214]

Hi Kate,

For me, based on base-line hearing tests done at time of initial AN diagnosis.... to 22 mos post-CK, I have retained 100% of my hearing for what it was at time of CK.

Phyl

[jb]

I've lost 15-20 dB in high-frequency hearing at 7 months post-CK, but my mid and low frequencies are the same.  I don't remember the G-R scale off-hand, but I can hear to talk on the phone, which I find "useful."  I'm hopeful that my hearing will remain stable or improve as residual swelling diminishes.

[Dana]

At 7 months after GK, they redid hearing tests and they were exactly same as the month before GK = no loss.
BTW, the follow-up MRI at 6 months (I'd postponed it) were very slightly swelling (hopefully temporary) of the AN and some greying in center indicating, hopefully, necrosis.
Dana

[sgerrard]

BTW, the follow-up MRI at 6 months (I'd postponed it) were very slightly swelling (hopefully temporary) of the AN and some greying in center indicating, hopefully, necrosis.
Dana

Dana, is that a new MRI result? It sounds good to me, the swelling is typical and I'm sure will turn out to be temporary, and the darkening of the tumor is a good sign that its days are numbered. Congratulations!

Six months post-CK, my hearing is essentially unchanged, with maybe a 5 DB drop in the low frequencies, but that could be the testing - it was not the same audiologist.

I would like to add that with radiation treatment, the death of the tumor is a slow process. Additional hearing loss in the months following treatment is often just the  AN itself, doing its final dirty deeds before dying, and would have happened anyway if there had been no treatment. This sort of thing also applies to some cases with surgery, where it is not the surgery itself, but the AN, that causes a facial nerve issue or the like. When in doubt, blame the AN, not the treatment.

Steve

[Sue]

Sadly, for me, my hearing went down the drain really fast and I am "severely" deaf on the left. However, that was before GK, and since GK, I don't think it's changed much.  Of course, it's not going to make much difference if it gets worse.  I really was hoping it would get better, but I guess that's deemed medically impossible after the nerve has been damaged this much.  Bummer!!     Ah, well, that makes us appreciate the fact that nature was kind to give us two ears!  I cheer anyone on that is lucky enough to retain their hearing after an AN has moved in. 

Sue in Vancouver

[Betsy]

Hi Kate,

So far (almost 8 months post-radiation), my hearing is exactly the same as it was when I was diagnosed.  I need to appreciate that fact more.  With my balance challenges, I tend to forget about what isn't bothering me!

Betsy

[lrm84]

Hi Katie,

My husband had 40% hearing loss in his right ear when he had Gamma Knife 18 months ago. I am happy to report that his tumor is slowing shrinking and his hearing  has remained the same.He does have tinnitus in that ear which he had before gamma knife.  Dr Lunsford at the University of Pittsburgh did his procedure. I cannot say enough good things about Dr Lunsford and his worderful staff.
We are now looking into a new treatment for the tinnitus.. www.neuromonics.com

Good Luck,
Lisa

[Mickey]

Hi Lisa! Im presently on watch and wait. If it wasn`t for the tinnitus I wouldn`nt know their was anything wrong. Anyhow, I am presently on Neuromonics for a little over 2 months now. Just went into stage 2 which will take 4 more months. So far so good but I`m not really going to say much untill it is completed. I belong to ananj and probably will be schedueled to say something on it in Oct. this year. I just want to be sure before I can give it my blessings. Mickey

[Sue]

How expensive is this Neuromonics?  I looked at the link.  Interesting.  It would be wonderful if this worked like it says it does.

Sue in Vancouver

[GM]

I have retained my hearing at almost the same state as before my diagnosis...   

GM

[pearchica]

Just had my second hearing test- Although I was up 5dc's on both the left and right ear, a 5 dc change is within the margin of error- so basically, I have no change.

It is important that you get the same group or tester doing your hearing test.  I have a set of hearing tests from Sacramento ENT which uses different equipment than Stanford ENT..

Hope this helps, Annie

[Dana]

late answer to your question, Steve... yes, that's my recent MRI, done in early March, first one after GK in July.  Ya-hooo, yeahhhh!!  Fingers crossed!

Thanks for asking...
Dana

[michael]

I have not had follow up hearing test but I believe that my hearing is basically the same as pre GK. I continue to have the tinnitus but that was the same before also. Still talking on the phone etc with my affected ear. Only time I have problems is if someone is whispering to me, I have to turn my "good ear" towards them.
Best wishes!!
Michael

[Elizabeth Roberts]

I'm four years out from having a 1 cm. AN treated with LINAC (linear accelerator) at UF-Gainesvillle. I've retained all of my hearing and my 4th yearly MRI a month ago shows the tumor has stopped growing.

Good luck to you,
Elizabeth