Advanced Brain and Ear Surgery Restores Hearing for Musician

For most people, hearing is essential. For professional musician and producer, Sean Wolfe, it is foundational to how he experiences the world.

When Wolfe was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a rare benign tumor that develops on the nerves responsible for hearing and balance, he knew treatment would be complex. Surgery was necessary but the risks were significant: permanent hearing loss, balance challenges, facial nerve injury, and the possibility of having to step away from the creative work that had defined much of his life.

After researching treatment options and consulting with multiple centers across the nation, Wolfe traveled from Portland, Oregon, to the Acoustic Neuroma Program at UC San Diego Health.

Recognized as an Acoustic Neuroma Association Center of Excellence, the international, multidisciplinary program is skilled in leading-edge techniques, including middle fossa craniotomy. UC San Diego Health is the highest-volume acoustic neuroma center in the United States, performing approximately 160 to 180 acoustic neuroma surgeries each year, a volume associated with improved outcomes for complex skull base conditions.

At the time of his diagnosis, Wolfe was told by another provider that he might not be seen for several months. UC San Diego Health was able to review his imaging remotely and schedule surgery within weeks, an important factor for a condition that can progressively impact hearing and balance.

"Acoustic neuromas require very careful planning," said Rick Fr iedman, MD, PhD, a neurotologist at UC San Diego Health who specializes in skull base surgery. "Every patient is different and decisions about timing, surgical approach, and long-term hearing goals have to be tailored to the individual."

Skull Xray — A postoperative imaging scan shows the cochlear implant placed following acoustic neuroma surgery at UC San Diego Health. Photo courtesy of the Wolfe family.

Specialized Surgery, Thoughtful Decision-Making

Wolfe's care was led by a multidisciplinary team that included co-directors Friedman and Marc Schwartz, MD, a neurosurgeon at UC San Diego Health with national expertise in skull base tumors and professor of neurological surgery at University of California San Diego School of Medicine. Together, they guided Wolfe through his options, including the potential risks and tradeoffs associated with different surgical approaches.

"One of the most important parts of treating acoustic neuromas is helping patients understand not just what we can do, but what makes the most sense for their safety and long-term outcome," said Schwartz. "That means open conversations about hearing preservation, nerve protection, and quality of life after surgery."

Even with today's advanced surgical methods, saving hearing in people with an acoustic neuroma is often very challenging. Because these tumors sit so closely to extremely delicate nerves, doctors make sure to explain that preserving hearing may not be possible before every surgery.

"That was the hardest moment," Wolfe said. "As a musician, you wonder if that part of your life is over."

Care That Extends Beyond Tumor Removal

For Wolfe, treatment did not end with surgery. He met specific medical criteria which made him one of a small number of patients eligible for cochlear implantation following acoustic neuroma surgery – a highly specialized option that is not widely available and requires close coordination between surgeons, audiologists, and rehabilitation specialists.

"Cochlear implantation after acoustic neuroma removal is not appropriate for everyone," said Friedman. "But for carefully selected patients, it can provide meaningful access to sound and significantly improve daily functioning."

A cochlear implant works by bypassing damaged structures of the inner ear and directly stimulating the hearing nerve using electrical signals. Following surgery, Wolfe's implant was activated after a short recovery period.

Before surgery, Wolfe was told there was a 50% chance the cochlear implant would be effective, a reality that made the first activation especially emotional.

"When they started activating the channels, I could hear all of them," Wolfe said. "It was incredible! I had lost my hearing and suddenly, I had something back."

That period of recovery was made easier by having consistent support nearby. While in San Diego, Wolfe and his wife stayed at the La Jolla Family House at UC San Diego Health, which provides affordable lodging for patients and caregivers undergoing treatment far from home. For families navigating long recoveries, access to stable housing can be an essential part of the healing process.

Musicians performing — Professional musician and producer Sean Wolfe (right), who also goes by Salvo Beta, has returned to creating and releasing music after undergoing complex acoustic neuroma surgery and cochlear implantation. Photo courtesy of the Wolfe family.

Rehabilitation, Patience, and Persistence

Adjusting to the cochlear implant required commitment. Wolfe participated in structured auditory rehabilitation, practiced listening exercises daily, and gradually retrained his brain to interpret sound in a new way.

"Recovery doesn't stop when surgery is over," said Schwartz. "The rehabilitation phase is critical, and patients who engage fully in that process often see continued improvement over time."

Music, too, returned — although differently.

"Music came back," Wolfe said. "Not worse, just different. I had to relearn how to listen."

Today, Wolfe has returned to music production and continues to create and release new music, remaining engaged in sound, technology, and creativity. His experience reflects the mission of UC San Diego Health by combining surgical expertise, advanced technology, and patient-centered care to support recovery that extends well beyond the operating room.

"This is exactly why specialized programs matter," said Friedman. "For the right patient, innovations like cochlear implantation after acoustic neuroma surgery can be truly life changing."

For Wolfe, what began as a frightening diagnosis ultimately became a journey defined by expert care, resilience, and the chance to reconnect with a world he feared he'd lost.