MANIFESTATIONS OF MOBILE PHONE USE IN YOUNG ADULTS

AIM: To determine the physical and functional effect of mobile phone use on ear and to assess the hearing pattern in young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total no. of 200 subjects between the age group of 15-25 years using mobile phone for at least 5 years were selected and screened for otological and other physical symptoms. RESULTS: In this study, the subjects using mobile phones for less than 1hr daily, 5dB loss was noted in 5% subjects, at speech frequencies. Those using mobile phone up to 2hrs daily, 5dB loss was seen in 10%, 10dB loss in 2.1% and 15dB loss in 3.1% of cases were observed. Whereas 5dB loss in 7%, 10dB loss in 3.8% and 15dB loss in 1.9% cases was seen in those using mobile phone for over 2hrs per day. Conclusion: Since up to 25dB audiometric hearing loss is taken as normal, so no significant hearing loss was observed in this study. It was observed that a hearing loss of 5?15dB was observed in the subjects using mobile phones from 1-2hrs/day for over 5 years.