Cell Phone Use Causes High Frequency Hearing Loss

Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 20 Sep 2007 - 15:00 PDT

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Hold the phone - long-term use of a cell phone may cause inner ear damage and can lead to high frequency hearing loss, according to a new study.

According to research presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Washington, DC, 100 people who had used mobile phones for over a year suffered increases in the degree of hearing loss over the span of 12 months. Furthermore, the study also discovered that people who used their phones for more than 60 minutes a day had a worse hearing threshold than those with less use.

High frequency hearing loss is characterized by the loss of ability to hear consonants such as s, f, t, and z, even though vowels can be heard normally. Consequently, people hear sounds but cannot make out what is being said.

The authors warn users of cell phones to look out for ear symptoms such as ear warmth, ear fullness, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus) as early warning signs that you may have an auditory abnormality. They also suggest the use of earphones, which they found to be safer than holding a mobile phone up to the ears.

Title: Audiological Disturbances in Long-Term Mobile Phone Users
Authors: Naresh K. Panda, MBBS, MS, DNB, FRCSEd; Sanjay Munjal, PhD; Jaimanti Bakshi, MS (ORL), DNB
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 9:58 AM - 10:06 AM

The AAO-HNS Annual Meeting newsroom will be located in Registration East, Street Level of the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. Hours of operation: Saturday, September 15, 12 PM to 5 PM; Sunday - Tuesday, September 16 -18, 7:30 AM to 5 PM; and Wednesday, September 19, 7:30 AM to 2PM. The newsroom serves as a work space for credentialed members of the media and credentialed public relations staff. The newsroom is managed and staffed by the AAO-HNS Communications Unit. Please see the AAO-HNS website for media credentialing requirements for the event - http://www.entnet.org/ent-press/online_reg.cfm.

About the AAO-HNS

The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's mission: "Working for the Best Ear, Nose, and Throat Care."

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