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Your Hearing Loss May Not Be a Sign of Aging: Understanding Acoustic Neuroma

October 27, 2026

Hearing Health · Acoustic Neuroma

About 2,500 to 3,000 new acoustic neuroma cases (aka vestibular schwannoma or AN) are diagnosed in the United States each year — roughly 1 to 4 per 100,000 people annually, and the rate is growing.

Acoustic neuromas are slow-growing, benign tumors — benign until they get so large they push on the brainstem, which can be life-threatening. They form on the balance nerve of the ear, the 8^th cranial nerve, which connects the ear to the brain.

2,500–3,000 New U.S. cases each year

~50% Diagnosed between ages 40 and 60

~5% Linked to genetic disorder NF2

Acoustic Neuroma: Not So Rare Anymore

Once thought rare, acoustic neuromas have become more common in recent decades. Researchers have speculated increased MRI use, radiation, or excessive exposure to loud music, but no firm cause has been proven.

About 50% are diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60, with most being diagnosed later in life. If diagnosed before age 30, a genetic mutation affecting both sides of the brain accounts for about 5% of cases.

Symptoms Include

Single-sided hearing loss
Ear fullness
Persistent ringing (tinnitus) in one ear
Facial weakness or twitching
Facial pain or numbness
Swallowing problems
Hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain) (1,2)

About 5% of all acoustic neuromas result from a rare genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), which can cause symptoms in both ears. However, evidence points to dysregulation of the NF2 gene as a probable cause for the 95% that do not have that disorder. (2,3)

Broccoli Sprouts: A Promising Ally in AN and Other Cancers

Because no firm cause has been pinned down, researchers have also been looking at what might help slow these tumors, and one candidate comes from an everyday vegetable. Along with its ability to boost natural glutathione levels, sulforaphane, found in broccoli sprouts, shows promise in fighting acoustic neuromas. (4) Preliminary studies also show promise for several other cancers.

Early Research on Sulforaphane

Prostate
Breast
Pancreatic
Melanoma (5)

How Sulforaphane Is Made: The Necessary Precursors

To understand why broccoli sprouts get so much attention, it helps to know how sulforaphane forms. Broccoli sprouts contain a natural compound called glucoraphanin, which the body uses to produce sulforaphane. When you chew or chop the sprouts, an enzyme called myrosinase is released, which helps convert glucoraphanin into sulforaphane. (5,6)

The resulting sulforaphane activates the NRF-2 pathway, which turns on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer genes. (5,6)

The Right Form Helps Preserve Sulforaphane

That conversion process is also why the form you choose matters. When taken as a supplement, preserving sulforaphane content is important. The right processing methods can help broccoli sprout powders maintain the precursors needed to produce sulforaphane. (7)

Growing Your Own Sprouts Has Its Challenges

While growing fresh broccoli sprouts may seem easy, eating them daily for their health benefits can be challenging. From the recent Salmonella outbreak to the constant upkeep, fresh sprouts can be both dangerous and time-consuming. (8)

The Bottom Line

Hearing loss or ringing in just one ear isn't always a normal part of getting older. Acoustic neuromas are being diagnosed more often, and catching one early matters, so it's worth raising one-sided symptoms with your care provider. Meanwhile, research on sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts is still early but encouraging, and a quality broccoli sprout supplement offers a way to get it without the upkeep and food-safety risks of growing your own.

Sulforaphane Without the Sprouting

Broccoli sprouts contain up to 100x more sulforaphane than mature broccoli. Our Broccoli Sprouts supplement offers a simple daily way to get this powerful antioxidant without the upkeep or food-safety concerns of growing sprouts at home.

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