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Top 5 Causes Of Acoustic Neuroma

[toc]Acoustic Neuroma is a benign tumor growing on the main nerve which connects the inner ear to the brain. These tumors usually grow slowly. As the tumor grows, it increases in size, which starts creating pressure on the hearing and balancing nerve. If the tumour affects the hearing nerves, it is generally considered as a genetic disorder called as neurofibromatosis. Risk factors of developing acoustic neuroma include having a parent with the genetic disorder or exposure to low radiation at the head and neck during childhood.

Acoustic Neuroma

The symptoms associated with acoustic neuroma are having a gradual hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and unsteadiness and sometimes, in extreme cases, facial numbness or facial paralysis. Therefore, if the tumor grows huge, it can cause a host of other problems. It is important to treat acoustic neuroma as soon as initial symptoms are seen. The following are the primary causes of acoustic neuroma.


Top 5 Causes Of Acoustic Neuroma

Loud Music

Listening to loud or high intensity music is always considered to be harmful not only to the ear but to the brain and may be life threatening. The abnormal growth of cells due to a considerably high amount of exposure to loud music or to high volume of noise for a relatively longer period of time can cause this disease as the loud music puts pressure on the nerve that connects ear to the brain.

Loud Music

Radiations

A low intensity radiation taken at an early stage of life may also cause this type of a tumour. Generally, excessive chewing of tobacco or intake of alcohol at an early stage develops a head or neck cancer.

To cure such cancerous growth, a low intensity radiation is given to the patients. This type of radiation has a side effect as it develops swelling in the neck region which may develop Acoustic Neuroma tumor.

Radiations

Cellular Phone Usage

A study states that about 95% of the total cases identified having Acoustic Neuroma tumour is of the sporadic form. The exact cause of such form is still not known to the doctors but some researchers have identified that it is caused due to excessive or prolonged use of cell phones in day to day life. The tumor is most likely to get developed due to the mutation or malfunctioning of the Neurofibromatosis type 1 genes.

Cell Phones

Malfunctioning Genes

The main cause of acoustic neuroma is the malfunctioning of the gene on chromosome 22. In the normal conditions, this gene produces a protein that helps in regulating the growth of Schwann cells which covers the entire nerve. Although it is known that the malfunctioning of the gene causes acoustic neuroma, the reason for the malfunctioning is not known.

Schwann Cells

Neurofibromatosis Type 2

Few cases of Acoustic Neuroma are reported due to a rare inherited condition known as Neurofibromatosis type 2. A study states that about 5% of the total cases identified having Acoustic Neuroma tumor is due to an inherited syndrome.The NF2 is often caused due to high intensity radiations to which the human body is exposed or with respect to treatment of any type of cancer or high exposure to ultra violet rays.

Neurofibromatosis Type

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