Causes of Acoustic Neuroma
The cause of acoustic neuroma is not well understood. For most acoustic neuromas, the cause at the level of the cellular machinery is the failure of a "governor" gene to exert its effect in suppressing the growth of Schwann cells-those cells responsible for coating nerve fibers with insulation. The result is "wart-like" growth of these cells to produce the neuroma.

The only environmental exposure that has been definitively associated with an increased incidence is high-dose, therapeutic radiation exposure to the head. While studying the association between cell phone use and the development of these tumors is difficult, the scientific community does not generally accept that any relationship has been proven.

For the most part it is not an inherited disease; however, 5% of cases are associated with a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis type 2. These individuals demonstrate two-sided vestibular tumors often associated with other tumors around the brain and/or in the spine. The vast majority of acoustic neuromas are sporadic (nonhereditary).