The effect of mobile phone use on hearing on pure tone audiometry

Abstract

Introduction: Mobile phones as fastest means of communication, indispensable for daily life globally. The widespread use has given rise to concerns about the potential health hazards of its electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human health. The present study was conducted to investigate the adverse effects of mobile phone usage on auditory functions and to study the pattern of hearing threshold in mobile phone users. Objective: The objective of the study was to study the effect of mobile phone on average pure tone audiometry (PTA) threshold of the person and to study the changes in the pure tone threshold at high frequencies such as 2 kHz, 4 kHz, and 8 kHz among the students with prolonged exposure to mobile phones. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 medical and paramedical students who have been using mobile phones for one year or more, divided in two groups. Group A- less than one hour per day and GroupB- more than one hour per day. The effect of mobile phones on the PTA threshold in the exposed ear and the nonexposed ear was also assessed. Results: The study shows that there is a significant difference in average air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) hearing threshold among the exposed and the nonexposed ears (P < 0.05) especially at high frequency. A significant rise of both AC and BC threshold in group B more than group A also noted in this study. Conclusion: The study conducted shows changes in the hearing threshold with mobile usage. The technology along with comfort also brings some hazards, hence to limit the duration of usage of mobile phones.