The 8th cranial nerve, also known as the facial nerve doesn't directly relate to hearing, but it does lie beside the auditory nerve and travel in some pretty tight channels thorough the skull as they both make their way to the brain.

The facial nerve provides control for many of the facial muscles such as the lips, the eyelids, and forehead, and it does provide sensation related to touch and taste. It also affects tearing, saliva and nasal fluid control.

There is a connection between hearing loss and the facial nerve in some situations, such as acoustic neuromas or NF2, where tumors on the acoustic nerve (or the surgery to remove them) can damage the facial nerve, too.