Medical students and mobile phones: a cross-sectional study on auditory health
Abstract Objective The main aim of our study was to identify the effect of prolonged mobile phone usage on hearing status and to correlate the duration of mobile phone usage with hearing status. Methodology A total of 140 medical students aged 18–30, who had been using mobile phones for more than 5 ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-04-01
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| Series: | The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-025-00821-7 |
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| author | Regin William Valli Rajasekaran Gowtham Kulothungan |
| author_facet | Regin William Valli Rajasekaran Gowtham Kulothungan |
| author_sort | Regin William |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective The main aim of our study was to identify the effect of prolonged mobile phone usage on hearing status and to correlate the duration of mobile phone usage with hearing status. Methodology A total of 140 medical students aged 18–30, who had been using mobile phones for more than 5 years, were included in the study. Participants had no preexisting ear disease, systemic illness, or frequent exposure to loud noise. Basic sociodemographic details were recorded, including the average duration of phone use (screen/call), Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values, and phone network. Handedness was noted to identify exposed and non-exposed ears, followed by a thorough ENT examination. Hearing status was assessed using Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) and Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA). Result Among the 140 subjects, 71 were males and 69 were females, with a mean age of 23 years. Most participants (138) were right-handed. The average call duration was 21 min/day. Notably, 28% of the students used mobile phones on calls for more than 30 min/day, and 58% of these students experienced mild hearing loss in the exposed ear(5-10 dB). BERA results were in coherence with the audiometry findings. Conclusion We conclude that mobile phone usage on call > 30 min/ day was associated with mild hearing loss. In conclusion, students should be educated about safe hearing practices to prevent hearing loss. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-abf6afb3607c4fba96ca6a3f5bc45eee |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2090-8539 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology |
| spelling | doaj-art-abf6afb3607c4fba96ca6a3f5bc45eee2025-08-20T02:55:25ZengSpringerOpenThe Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology2090-85392025-04-014111710.1186/s43163-025-00821-7Medical students and mobile phones: a cross-sectional study on auditory healthRegin William0Valli Rajasekaran1Gowtham Kulothungan2Department of Otorhinoalryngology, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College And Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be university)Department of Otorhinoalryngology, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College And Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be university)Department of Otorhinoalryngology, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College And Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be university)Abstract Objective The main aim of our study was to identify the effect of prolonged mobile phone usage on hearing status and to correlate the duration of mobile phone usage with hearing status. Methodology A total of 140 medical students aged 18–30, who had been using mobile phones for more than 5 years, were included in the study. Participants had no preexisting ear disease, systemic illness, or frequent exposure to loud noise. Basic sociodemographic details were recorded, including the average duration of phone use (screen/call), Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values, and phone network. Handedness was noted to identify exposed and non-exposed ears, followed by a thorough ENT examination. Hearing status was assessed using Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) and Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA). Result Among the 140 subjects, 71 were males and 69 were females, with a mean age of 23 years. Most participants (138) were right-handed. The average call duration was 21 min/day. Notably, 28% of the students used mobile phones on calls for more than 30 min/day, and 58% of these students experienced mild hearing loss in the exposed ear(5-10 dB). BERA results were in coherence with the audiometry findings. Conclusion We conclude that mobile phone usage on call > 30 min/ day was associated with mild hearing loss. In conclusion, students should be educated about safe hearing practices to prevent hearing loss.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-025-00821-7Hearing lossSmartphoneMobile phoneRadiofrequencyBERA |
| spellingShingle | Regin William Valli Rajasekaran Gowtham Kulothungan Medical students and mobile phones: a cross-sectional study on auditory health The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology Hearing loss Smartphone Mobile phone Radiofrequency BERA |
| title | Medical students and mobile phones: a cross-sectional study on auditory health |
| title_full | Medical students and mobile phones: a cross-sectional study on auditory health |
| title_fullStr | Medical students and mobile phones: a cross-sectional study on auditory health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medical students and mobile phones: a cross-sectional study on auditory health |
| title_short | Medical students and mobile phones: a cross-sectional study on auditory health |
| title_sort | medical students and mobile phones a cross sectional study on auditory health |
| topic | Hearing loss Smartphone Mobile phone Radiofrequency BERA |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-025-00821-7 |
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