| [[Acoustic neuromas]] are more common in adults, and rarely occur in children. The causes of acoustic neuromas are largely unknown. Relatively few studies have addressed this specific [[tumor]] type, as acoustic neuromas are seldom analyzed separately in risk factor analyses and are more often grouped under the general heading of [[brain tumors]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Forssén UM, Lönn S, Ahlbom A, Savitz DA, Feychting M |title=Occupational magnetic field exposure and the risk of acoustic neuroma |journal=Am. J. Ind. Med. |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=112–8 |year=2006 |month=February |pmid=16374820|doi=10.1002/ajim.20251 |url=}}</ref>[[Ionizing radiation]] exposure is the only well-established exogenous risk factor for acoustic neuroma and has been confirmed in studies of radiation treatments and dental X-rays.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Preston DL, Ron E, Yonehara S, ''et al.'' |title=Tumors of the nervous system and pituitary gland associated with atomic bomb radiation exposure |journal=J. Natl. Cancer Inst. |volume=94 |issue=20 |pages=1555–63 |year=2002 |month=October |pmid=12381708 |doi= |url=}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Ron E, Modan B, Boice JD, ''et al.'' |title=Tumors of the brain and nervous system after radiotherapy in childhood |journal=N. Engl. J. Med. |volume=319 |issue=16 |pages=1033–9 |year=1988 |month=October |pmid=3173432 |doi=10.1056/NEJM198810203191601 |url=}}</ref>Individuals who underwent radiation treatment of [[tinea capitis]] during childhood were found to develop an excess of [[benign]] and [[malignant]] [[brain tumors]] of various [[histological]] types, including acoustic neuromas<ref>{{cite journal |author=Edwards CG, Schwartzbaum JA, Lönn S, Ahlbom A, Feychting M |title=Exposure to loud noise and risk of acoustic neuroma |journal=Am. J. Epidemiol. |volume=163 |issue=4 |pages=327–33 |year=2006 |month=February |pmid=16357108 |doi=10.1093/aje/kwj044 |url=}}</ref> <ref>{{cite journal |author=Ron E, Modan B, Boice JD, ''et al.'' |title=Tumors of the brain and nervous system after radiotherapy in childhood |journal=N. Engl. J. Med. |volume=319 |issue=16 |pages=1033–9 |year=1988 |month=October |pmid=3173432 |doi=10.1056/NEJM198810203191601 |url=}}</ref> In addition, a study of atomic bomb survivors found that the [[intracranial]] tumor subtype most strongly related to ionizing radiation exposure was acoustic neuroma <ref>{{cite journal |author=Preston DL, Ron E, Yonehara S, ''et al.'' |title=Tumors of the nervous system and pituitary gland associated with atomic bomb radiation exposure |journal=J. Natl. Cancer Inst. |volume=94 |issue=20 |pages=1555–63 |year=2002 |month=October |pmid=12381708 |doi= |url=}}</ref> <ref>{{cite journal |author=Ron E, Modan B, Boice JD, ''et al.'' |title=Tumors of the brain and nervous system after radiotherapy in childhood |journal=N. Engl. J. Med. |volume=319 |issue=16 |pages=1033–9 |year=1988 |month=October |pmid=3173432 |doi=10.1056/NEJM198810203191601 |url=}}</ref>. A statistically significant dose-related excess of nervous system tumors, including schwannomas was observed in the cohort of atomic bomb survivors<ref>{{cite journal |author=Preston DL, Ron E, Yonehara S, ''et al.'' |title=Tumors of the nervous system and pituitary gland associated with atomic bomb radiation exposure |journal=J. Natl. Cancer Inst. |volume=94 |issue=20 |pages=1555–63 |year=2002 |month=October |pmid=12381708 |doi= |url=}}</ref>. The excess [[relative risk]] per [[sievert (Sv)]] of absorbed dose for schwannomas was 4.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 1.9, 9.2) and the dose-response relationship was linear. Exposure to even moderate doses (i.e. <1 Sv) of radiation was associated with an elevated incidence of nervous system tumors, including Schwannomas. The association between the [[non-ionizing radiation]] from cellular telephones and the risk of acoustic neuroma has been examined in several studies. However, the evidence of an association so far is limited. Elevated risk of acoustic neuromas has been associated with specific [[occupations]] such as truck drivers, gas station attendants, sales representatives, and teachers<ref>{{cite journal |author=Rajaraman P, De Roos AJ, Stewart PA, ''et al.'' |title=Occupation and risk of meningioma and acoustic neuroma in the United States |journal=Am. J. Ind. Med. |volume=45 |issue=5 |pages=395–407 |year=2004 |month=May |pmid=15095422 |doi=10.1002/ajim.10363 |url=}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Preston-Martin S, Thomas DC, Wright WE, Henderson BE |title=Noise trauma in the aetiology of acoustic neuromas in men in Los Angeles County, 1978-1985 |journal=Br. J. Cancer |volume=59 |issue=5 |pages=783–6 |year=1989 |month=May |pmid=2736213 |pmc=2247243 |doi= |url=}}</ref>. However, it remains unclear what specific environmental exposure within those occupations is responsible for the increased risk. Exposure to loud noise has been suggested as a potential risk factor for acoustic neuromas in two studies<ref>{{cite journal |author=Edwards CG, Schwartzbaum JA, Lönn S, Ahlbom A, Feychting M |title=Exposure to loud noise and risk of acoustic neuroma |journal=Am. J. Epidemiol. |volume=163 |issue=4 |pages=327–33 |year=2006 |month=February |pmid=16357108 |doi=10.1093/aje/kwj044 |url=}}</ref>
| | The risk factors of acoustic neuroma include: |