Some facial nerve disorders are treated by hearing specialists due to the close proximity of the affected nerve to the structures of the ear. As the nerves leave the brain, they travel into the ear canal and are located very close to the hearing and balance nerves. These facial nerves are then branched throughout the delicate internal structures of the ear, including the middle ear bones and the eardrum. As such, some facial nerve disorders can cause hearing loss.
A hearing test will often be administered to determine whether hearing has been affected by the facial nerve disorder.