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The clearest place to begin
Observation is still an active care plan. The goal is to understand what will be monitored, who reviews it and what could reopen the treatment discussion.
Key takeaways
What to remember
- Watch and wait is a monitored clinical plan—not doing nothing.
- MRI and hearing follow-up should be individualized to your situation.
- Ask who compares results, how changes are explained, and when you will hear from the team.
- Know which findings or symptom changes would reopen the treatment discussion.
01
Observation is a monitored decision
Watch and wait generally means following the tumor and your function over time rather than beginning treatment immediately. It should include a defined clinical team, a follow-up plan, and a route for reporting changes.
The appropriate schedule is individualized. Avoid copying another person’s MRI interval; ask your treating team why a particular plan fits your imaging, hearing, symptoms and health context.
02
Clarify what will be compared
Ask whether future scans will use a comparable technique and how measurements will be interpreted. Small differences can reflect technique or measurement, so the treating team should explain whether a change is clinically meaningful.
- Who compares each scan with the previous study?
- Will hearing be checked alongside imaging?
- How and when will results be discussed?
- What happens if a scan is delayed?
03
Track function without living under surveillance
A short symptom record can help when something truly changes, but constant checking may increase anxiety. Focus on changes that affect function, such as hearing, balance, facial sensation, headaches, or daily activities, and ask your team what they specifically want reported.
04
Know what reopens the decision
Ask which findings would lead to another treatment conversation and what options would be reconsidered. The answer may involve more than growth alone. Hearing, symptoms, anatomy, age, health, preferences, and the experience of the treating team can influence the discussion.
Sources and further reading
Evidence and clinical guidance
- Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma) and NeurofibromatosisNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders · 2017
- The role of imaging in the management of patients with vestibular schwannomas: updateCongress of Neurological Surgeons · 2025
Clinical evidence is kept separate from Abigail’s lived experience. Sources support general education and do not replace advice from your own care team.
About the author
Abigail Villarin Cauilan
Acoustic Neuroma Survivor · Founder, Acoustic Neuroma WarriorAbigail shares lived experience, patient-friendly education, and compassionate support so no one facing an acoustic neuroma diagnosis feels completely alone.
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