Symptoms of acoustic neuroma:

When an acoustic neuroma is small, it may not cause any symptoms. Because acoustic neuromas tend to grow slowly, you may only notice your symptoms developing gradually.

Some of the symptoms of acoustic neuromas include the following:

• Hearing loss - approximately 90% of people with acoustic neuroma experience some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss normally develops gradually, although in approximately 5% of cases it occurs suddenly. Hearing is normally predominantly affected in one ear.

• Tinnitus - this is a ringing sensation in your ears. Again, only one ear is normally affected. Approximately 70% of people with acoustic neuroma have tinnitus.

• Vertigo - this can cause you to feel as though you are spinning, even when you are standing still.

• Facial numbness, tingling or pain - this can occur if the tumour begins to press on the nerve which controls feeling and sensation in the face (the trigeminal nerve).

• Headaches - this is a relatively rare symptom, although it can occur if the tumour blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (which helps protect the brain from trauma).

• Temporary sight problems - this is again rare, and is also caused by a cerebrospinal fluid blockage.

• Ear ache.