What is it?

The cranial nerves are a set of 12 paired nerves in the back of your brain. Cranial nerves are responsible for taste, smell, hear, feel sensations, facial expressions, eyes movement and tongue movement.

Tumors of the cranial nerves are referred to as Schwannomas. Schwannomas are, usually benign tumors in the nervous system, which grows from cells called Schwann cells. Schwann cells protect and support the nerve cells of the nervous system.

Acoustic Neuroma is a type of Schwannoma, damaging the vestibulocochlear nerve, which is responsible on transmitting sound and send balance information from the inner ear to the brain.
They usually grow slowly over a period of years. They do not damage the brain directly, but they can cause pressure on the brain and press on nearby cranial nerves.
Acoustic Neuroma can be sporadic, causing unilateral tumors or it can be part of a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis Type 2, causing bilateral tumors.