Acoustic Neuroma- A benign tumor that grows on the eighth cranial nerve.

This is information from the Acoustic Neuroma Association.  An Acoustic Neuroma is also called a Vestibular Schwannoma.  It is a slow growing benign tumor that grows on the Eighth Cranial Nerve into the Auditory Canal. It can press on the Trigeminal (facial nerve) and cause numbness and tingling in the face.  It also mentions in this article that one symptom is a person hearing words but the brain not processing them right to actually comprehend what was said.  If it grows large enough it can press on the brain stem or cerebellum.  It can cause symptoms such as hearing loss, vertigo, headaches, and mental confusion.  It also causes problems with unsteadiness and loss of balance in a lot of people that have the tumor.  About 90 percent of people first experience hearing loss in one ear and ringing in the ear (tinnitus).  It can be accurately diagnosed by an MRI with contrast dye. Here is a link to their website for more detailed information.....  http://www.anausa.org/index.php/overview/what-is-acoustic-neuroma