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The acute auditory effects of exposure for 60 minutes to mobile`s electromagnetic field.

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Alsanosi AA, Al-Momani MO, Hagr AA, Almomani FM, Shami IM, Al-Habeeb SF. · 2013

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Just 60 minutes of mobile phone use caused immediate, measurable hearing changes and inner ear dysfunction in healthy young adults.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tested hearing function in people before and after 60 minutes of mobile phone use, measuring both hearing thresholds and inner ear responses. They found immediate hearing changes at specific frequencies (1000 Hz and 2000 Hz) and inner ear dysfunction, along with symptoms like heat and pain. This demonstrates that even short-term phone use can cause measurable, immediate effects on hearing.

Why This Matters

This study provides direct evidence that mobile phone radiation causes immediate, measurable changes to hearing function - not just subjective symptoms, but objective changes measured by clinical equipment. The fact that these effects occurred after just 60 minutes of exposure is particularly significant, as this represents typical daily phone use for many people. What makes this research especially compelling is that it measured both hearing thresholds and inner ear function using distortion product otoacoustic emissions, a sensitive test that can detect subtle damage before it shows up on standard hearing tests. The reality is that your inner ear contains some of the most delicate sensory cells in your body, and this study demonstrates they're vulnerable to EMF exposure at levels we encounter daily.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1 kHz - 2 kHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1 kHz - 2 kHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 1000 Hz, 1400 Hz, 2000 Hz Duration: 60 minutes

Study Details

To assess the immediate consequences of 60 minutes exposure to mobile phones on hearing function by determining changes in distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and hearing threshold levels (HTLs).

This prospective control clinical trial study was carried out at the Ear, Nose and Throat Department...

Heat/pain was the most commonly reported symptom. In the test-ears, significant shift (p<0.05) was n...

Sixty minutes of close exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by a mobile phone had an immediate effect on HTL assessed by pure-tone audiogram and inner ear (assessed by DPOAE) in young human subjects. It also caused a number of other otologic symptoms.

Cite This Study
Alsanosi AA, Al-Momani MO, Hagr AA, Almomani FM, Shami IM, Al-Habeeb SF. (2013). The acute auditory effects of exposure for 60 minutes to mobile`s electromagnetic field. Saudi Med J. 34(2):142-146, 2013.
Show BibTeX
@article{aa_2013_the_acute_auditory_effects_1828,
  author = {Alsanosi AA and Al-Momani MO and Hagr AA and Almomani FM and Shami IM and Al-Habeeb SF.},
  title = {The acute auditory effects of exposure for 60 minutes to mobile`s electromagnetic field.},
  year = {2013},
  
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/23396459},
}
PubMed: 23396459

Cited By (16 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, researchers found that 60 minutes of mobile phone use caused immediate hearing changes at 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz frequencies, plus inner ear dysfunction. The study measured hearing before and after phone exposure, showing measurable hearing threshold shifts and inner ear problems even from short-term use.
Yes, heat and pain were the most commonly reported symptoms during 60 minutes of mobile phone exposure in this 2013 study. Participants experienced immediate thermal sensations and discomfort in the ear used for phone calls, while the opposite ear showed no symptoms.
Mobile phones can affect inner ear function immediately. After just 60 minutes of phone use, researchers detected significant changes in inner ear responses (DPOAE) at 1000 Hz, 1400 Hz, and 2000 Hz frequencies, indicating rapid electromagnetic field effects on hearing mechanisms.
Yes, cell phones specifically affected hearing at 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz frequencies after 60 minutes of use. These particular frequencies showed significant hearing threshold shifts, while other frequencies remained unaffected, suggesting targeted electromagnetic field effects on specific hearing ranges.
During one hour of phone use, people experienced heat, pain, hearing changes at specific frequencies, and inner ear dysfunction. The study found immediate effects including shifted hearing thresholds and altered inner ear responses, demonstrating that symptoms develop quickly during phone exposure.