High-frequency hearing loss among mobile phone users.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess high frequency hearing (above 8 kHz) loss among prolonged mobile phone users is a tertiary Referral Center. Prospective single blinded study. This is the first study that used high-frequency audiometry. The wide usage of mobile phone is so profound that we were unable to find enough non-users as a control group. Therefore we compared the non-dominant ear to the dominant ear using audiometric measurements. The study was a blinded study wherein the audiologist did not know which was the dominant ear. A total of 100 subjects were studied. Of the subjects studied 53% were males and 47% females. Mean age was 27. The left ear was dominant in 63%, 22% were dominant in the right ear and 15% did not have a preference. This study showed that there is significant loss in the dominant ear compared to the non-dominant ear (P < 0.05). Chronic usage mobile phone revealed high frequency hearing loss in the dominant ear (mobile phone used) compared to the non dominant ear.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In 100 mobile phone users, high-frequency audiometry showed a statistically significant loss in the dominant ear compared with the non-dominant ear (P < 0.05). The authors interpret this as chronic mobile phone use being associated with high-frequency hearing loss in the phone-used (dominant) ear.

Outcomes measured

• High-frequency hearing loss (>8 kHz)
• Audiometric differences between dominant (phone-used) ear and non-dominant ear

Limitations

• No non-user control group; comparison was within-person (dominant vs non-dominant ear)
• Exposure duration/intensity not quantified beyond 'prolonged/chronic'
• Frequency/SAR of mobile phone exposure not reported

{
    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "prolonged/chronic usage (not further specified)"
    },
    "population": "Mobile phone users at a tertiary referral center (mean age 27; 53% male, 47% female)",
    "sample_size": 100,
    "outcomes": [
        "High-frequency hearing loss (>8 kHz)",
        "Audiometric differences between dominant (phone-used) ear and non-dominant ear"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In 100 mobile phone users, high-frequency audiometry showed a statistically significant loss in the dominant ear compared with the non-dominant ear (P < 0.05). The authors interpret this as chronic mobile phone use being associated with high-frequency hearing loss in the phone-used (dominant) ear.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "No non-user control group; comparison was within-person (dominant vs non-dominant ear)",
        "Exposure duration/intensity not quantified beyond 'prolonged/chronic'",
        "Frequency/SAR of mobile phone exposure not reported"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "mobile phone",
        "RF exposure",
        "high-frequency audiometry",
        ">8 kHz",
        "hearing loss",
        "dominant ear",
        "single-blinded",
        "tertiary referral center"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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