6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body

Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Symptoms & Sensitivity

Electromagnetic interference of bone-anchored hearing aids by cellular phones.

No Effects Found

Kompis M, Negri S, Hausler R. · 2000

View Original Abstract
Share:

Cell phones caused disruptive interference in 85% of bone-anchored hearing aid users, demonstrating measurable EMF effects on medical devices.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers studied electromagnetic interference between bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) and cell phones in 17 patients. They found that 11 of 13 patients who used digital cell phones experienced annoying buzzing sounds when the devices interfered with their hearing aids, with one patient also reporting dizziness and head pressure. While the interference wasn't considered harmful, it demonstrates how wireless devices can disrupt medical implants.

Why This Matters

This study highlights a crucial but often overlooked aspect of EMF exposure: interference with medical devices. While the researchers concluded the electromagnetic interference wasn't harmful, the fact that 85% of hearing aid users experienced disruptive effects from cell phones reveals how pervasive wireless radiation has become in our environment. The reality is that as we've surrounded ourselves with more wireless devices, we've created an electromagnetic soup that can interfere with sensitive medical equipment. What this means for you is that if you or a loved one uses hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other electronic medical devices, you should be aware that cell phones and other wireless devices can cause interference. The buzzing and disruption experienced by these patients serves as a tangible reminder that EMF radiation isn't just theoretical - it has measurable, observable effects on electronic systems, including those designed to help people with medical conditions.

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Electromagnetic interference of bone-anchored hearing aids by cellular phones.

We report a case of electromagnetic interference between a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) and a ce...

Of the 13 patients with some experience of digital cellular phones, 11 reported hearing annoying noi...

Cite This Study
Kompis M, Negri S, Hausler R. (2000). Electromagnetic interference of bone-anchored hearing aids by cellular phones. Acta Otolaryngol 120(7):855-859, 2000.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2000_electromagnetic_interference_of_boneanchored_3152,
  author = {Kompis M and Negri S and Hausler R.},
  title = {Electromagnetic interference of bone-anchored hearing aids by cellular phones.},
  year = {2000},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11132720/},
}
PubMed: 11132720

Cited By (14 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, digital cell phones can interfere with bone-anchored hearing aids. A 2000 study found that 11 of 13 patients with digital phones experienced annoying buzzing sounds when their phones interfered with their hearing aids, though this interference wasn't considered harmful to health.
One patient in a 2000 study reported dizziness and head pressure when their bone-anchored hearing aid interfered with a digital cell phone. However, this was rare - only 1 of 17 patients experienced these symptoms beyond the typical buzzing sounds.
Hearing aids buzz near cell phones due to electromagnetic interference from the phone's radio signals. This buzzing occurs when the phone's electromagnetic field disrupts the hearing aid's electronic components, creating annoying noise that patients can hear through their devices.
Yes, bone-anchored hearing aids are safe to use with mobile phones. While digital phones can cause annoying buzzing interference in these devices, research from 2000 found no evidence that this electromagnetic interference is harmful or dangerous to users.
Most hearing aid users with digital cell phones experience interference problems. A study of bone-anchored hearing aid patients found that 11 out of 13 users (85%) reported annoying noises when their digital phones interfered with their hearing devices.