Effect of Mobile Phone use on Hearing in Young Adults: An Observational Study

There are concerns regarding the health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by mobile phones. There are apprehensions regarding the effect of these radiations on auditory system. The objective of this study was to find the effect of mobile phone on hearing in young adults. We studied 75 medical students who were mobile phone users for >1 year. Initial hearing status of subjects was assessed by Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and Brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) at the time of enrollment in the study and repeat audiological assessment was conducted at 6 months and again at one year and comparison was done. The mean age of the population was 20.13 + 1.33 years. Right, left and no particular preference for any ear was seen in 74.7%, 16% and 9.3%, respectively. Mean PTA at baseline in right ear at baseline, 6 months and 1 year was 12.71 ± 3.51 dB, 13.73 ± 3.69 dB and 14.07 ± 3.25 dB (p value=0.120), respectively and the same values for left ear were 13.28±3.57, 14.32±3.10 and 14.24±3.20 (p = 0.170) at baseline, 6 months and 1 year. No statistically significant difference in hearing thresholds was seen at baseline and at subsequent follow-ups and between dominant ear and non-dominant ear on BERA and OAE. We did not find any short term effect of mobile phones on the hearing in young adults, however, long term effect on hearing with progressing age cannot be ruled out.