Tinnitus, Acoustic Neuroma and Hearing Loss – The Facts

Millions of people across the world suffer from some form of hearing loss – either as a natural part of ageing or because of damage to the ears. Tinnitus is a very common condition, which affects huge numbers of people. Acoustic neuromas are rather less common, but none the less, have an impact in terms of hearing.

Here’s some more information about the two conditions, their causes, and what to expect from each one.

Understanding Tinnitus

Tinnitus, for most sufferers, is a non-serious complaint. The vast majority of people with tinnitus experience it as a ringing or buzzing in the ears; though in some instances, symptoms can be different. The rarer form of tinnitus is to hear a persistent whistling or low humming, and some people even experience the condition as music or singing!

Due to its distinctive symptoms, it’s an easy condition to diagnose. For most, it’s something they can live with, which doesn’t dramatically impact their everyday lives. However, for the unfortunate few, tinnitus can be severe, impacting on their hearing and making everyday activities difficult.

Tinnitus, Acoustic Neuroma – What’s the Difference?

Because acoustic neuromas often cause tinnitus-like symptoms, it’s occasionally difficult for doctors to tell the difference. However, acoustic neuromas tend to be degenerative and often have accompanying symptoms.

If you believe that you are suffering from either of these conditions or any form of hearing loss, it’s important to arrange a consultation with your GP, who can provide you with a formal assessment.

How Did You Develop Tinnitus or Acoustic Neuroma?

In most cases, tinnitus occurs naturally, as part of the ageing process. Less is known about what causes acoustic neuromas, but for around 5% of sufferers, the cause is a rare genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 2.

However, not all root causes of these hearing problems are natural. In some cases, hearing can be damaged by your working environment, particularly if you’re exposed to loud noises on a regular basis for a prolonged period of time. If this is the case, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your hearing impairment.

Compensation for Tinnitus / Acoustic Neuroma

If your employer failed to provide you with the correct equipment to protect your ears, or didn’t give the right level of health and safety training, then they may have acted negligently – and if this is the case, you could be eligible to receive compensation.

If you suspect this might apply to you, arrange to speak to a specialist lawyer, who will examine your case in greater depth.

Acoustic Neuroma and Hearing Loss

Acoustic neuromas are a form of a benign tumour, which is located in the brain. They’re not life-threatening, but over time can cause problems with hearing and other functions. Acoustic neuromas affect around 20 in a million people – so it’s relatively rare, but for some reason, it’s more common in women than men.

Symptoms of this form of tumour include:

• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Problems with balance
• Vertigo and dizziness
• Headaches
• Numbness and pain on one side of the face
• Difficulty coordinating movement on one side of the body
• Muscle weakness on one side of the face