Effects of Long Term Use of Mobile Phones on Hearing Status of Healthy Individuals Compared to Infrequent Mobile Phone Users in Age Group of 15-40 Years

Background& objectives: The electromagnetic waves can affect the human health including hearing impairment. Several studies have shown increased degree of hearing loss with long term use of mobile phones. The present study was conducted to find out the severity of hearing loss with long term use of mobile phones. Method: The study was conducted at District Disability& Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC), civil hospital campus, Ahmedabad on 30 subjects of 15-40 years age group using mobile phones more than 1 hour a day as study group and another 30 subjects with same age group using mobile phones less than 15 minutes a day as control group. The pure tone Audiometry was conducted in both groups using Elken eda 3 N 3 mille instrument. Results: The study shown an increased mean hearing loss with long term mobile phone usage in study groups compared to control group and difference was statistically significant (Pless than0.05). Interpretation& conclusion: Similar to earlier studies done in India& abroad, increased degree of hearing loss was found in long term mobile phone usage than control subjects with mean hearing loss was more in dominant ear compared to non-dominant ear. Cut short the duration of mobile phone usage can reduce this problem.