Acoustic Neuroma

[Tripledave]

Hi Everyone

I am trying to find out the CAA's view on acoustic neuroma's for retaining a class one medical?
During my medical renewal my AME picked up some substantial hearing loss in my right ear, and after referral to a ENT specialist I'm waiting to do a MRI scan. Are there any pilots out there flying after being diagnosed with this condition?
Any advice would be really appreciated

Tripledave

[Tripledave]

Hi Leffe
The loss has been noted over my last two audiogram's, also after visiting the ENT specialist speech recognition has dropped to 60% in my right hand ear!!!Which is asymmetric as the left ear has 90% speech recognition.Which she reckons could be pointing to a tumour!!!



TD

[BelfastChild]

Hi TD,

my advice is just to wait on the MRI results. I know it's hard, but no point in getting worked up over something that might not be. It certainly may be an acoustic neuroma but more often than not they can be removed surgically. If it is a substantial size or rapidly progressive then you would probably need to have it removed. What happens with your licence after that depends on how you come through the surgery. But as I said, really need the scan to determine what it is, and then where it is, how big etc before you can tell what happens. Best of luck.....:\

[dc61]

For what its worth, my mother has an acoustic neuroma, and the symptoms were some tinnitus but more particularly loss of balance. Treatment was radiotherapy, as surgery is clearly invasive and can result in some facial paralysis. Her prognosis is excellent (she's now 70) and has been told it will probably regrow and may need more treatment in 20/25 years time!!
Of course as your other correspondent has said, wait for the MRI result before panicking unduely (easier said than done, I know).
BTW they are usually very slow growing, and benign.
All the best