Usually this is a temporary problem due to the disruption of balance input from the AN ear. The brain learns to reinterpret perception from other sources. Much balance information comes from sight, the unaffected ear, pressure on the feet, etc. The vestibular or balance branch of the VIIIth cranial nerve actually has two sub-branches. It used to be thought that if one of those branches could be preserved, balance post-surgery might be better.
Some patients report a sensation of fullness or pressure in the affected ear.
Many patients have reported successful handling of AN-related headaches before treatment through alternative medicine approaches like acupuncture. See our alternative treatments and nutrition section. This could cause facial sensations such as weakness or tingling. If untreated, an AN could grow into the brainstem, which houses the basic centers responsible for regulating breathing and heart beat. Pressure exerted on the brainstem from the tumor could be fatal.