About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
North American Skull Base Society
American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001
Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA
Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 3/12/2008 Subject: AN?
Question I'm an 18 year old female with a possible acoustic neuroma. Just before I turned 17 I started experiencing painful ear popping, slight loss of hearing and frequent, random pains in my mandible. I have also had tinnitus from a young age (ringing and marching in both ears) but had not been aware of what it was.
From the word go it has been established that there is no form of infection in either ear. Very recently I have been booked in for an MRI scan to check for any possibility of an acoustic neuroma, however, the hearing loss I experience is the smallest bit worse in my left ear and this has showed only very slightly in one test out of many.
Also, I have only recently begun experiencing pain in my jaw and cheeks and this occurs on both sides on my face.
Because of the sparseness of the pain and the fact that everything occurs on both sides, I'm doubtful that I have an AN, but would much appreciate any pointers as to what could be causing my problems. If an acoustic neuroma doesn't cause pain in ears, what is it? Because it was the pains in my ears that led me to see my GP in the first place, rather than the hearing loss that my friends pointed out to me soon after.
Thanks
Answer Lauryn,
These symptoms are usually not caused by an acoustic neuroma. In fact, it is extremely unusual for acoustic neuromas to cause pain. They infrequently cause headaches.
Your symptoms sound more like they come from either the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint, TMJ) and/or the Eustachian tube. I suspect that you have at least some element of TMJ.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical
advice - the information presented is for patients education only.
Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your
individual case.
