ear, nose, and throat disorders
Vestibular Schwannoma
Introduction
A vestibular schwannoma (also called an acoustic neuroma) is a noncancerous (benign) tumor that originates in the cells that wrap around the vestibular nerve (Schwann cells). Vestibular schwannomas start in the vestibular branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve (8th Overview of the Cranial Nerves ), which helps maintain balance. The other branch, the cochlear (auditory) branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve, carries sound signals to the brain. The tumor grows and presses on the auditory nerve, causing hearing loss in one ear that usually progresses slowly. (See also Overview of the Inner Ear .) 