Mobile phone users at risk of developing hearing loss

Chandigarh, Aug 9 (UNI) Frequent mobile users beware. Those using mobile phones for more than 4 years and longer than 30 minutes a day were at the risk of developing hearing loss.

This was revealed by Prof Naresh K Panda, Head of the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, at a press conference here today.

He said a preliminary study, conducted by a team of doctors from the Department of Otolaryngology on 100-odd long term mobile phone users in Chandigarh, showed that this hearing loss was more in the dominant ear (ear of use).

Presence of ''fullness in the ear'', ''ear warmth'', ''strange noises in the ear'' were other complications found among these mobile phone users when subjected to various sophisticated auditory tests. All these people have been using GSM phones.

As there has been a growing concern about the safety of electromagnetic radiations emitted from the mobile phones, the study aimed at assessing if long term mobile phone use had any adverse effect on hearing and central auditory pathways.

The Otolaryngology Department plans to involve more people from a cross-section of society for a more comprehensive study into the vital matter affecting public health.

Prof Panda said the department had sent a proposal to the Indian Council of Medical Research for funding the project.

Prof Panda has been invited to present the study at the meeting of Annual Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck which will be held at Washington DC next month.

UNI