Mobile phone related-hazards and subjective hearing and vision symptoms in the Saudi population
Meo SA, Al-Drees AM · 2005
View Original AbstractOver one-third of mobile phone users in this Saudi study reported hearing problems, suggesting widespread symptomatic effects from phone use.
Plain English Summary
Saudi researchers surveyed 873 mobile phone users to investigate whether phone use was linked to hearing and vision problems. They found that over one-third (34.59%) of users reported hearing-related issues like impaired hearing, ear pain, or warmth in the ear, while 5% experienced vision problems like blurred or decreased vision. The study suggests that mobile phone use may be a health risk factor that requires greater public awareness.
Why This Matters
This early survey research from 2005 provides important real-world evidence of symptoms people experience from mobile phone use. While the study didn't measure specific radiation levels, it captured what hundreds of users were actually experiencing in their daily lives. The finding that more than one in three users reported hearing problems is particularly significant because it aligns with laboratory studies showing that radiofrequency radiation can affect auditory function. What makes this research valuable is its focus on subjective symptoms that people notice themselves, rather than just biological markers that require laboratory testing. The reality is that many users do report these types of symptoms, and this study helps validate those experiences with systematic data collection from a large population.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
the present study was designed to investigate a link between the use of mobile phones and hearing and vision symptoms in the Saudi population and also to contribute to the increase in social awareness of health problems associated with the use of these devices.
A total of 873 (57.04% of males and 39.86% of females) subjects using mobile phones were invited to ...
The present study showed an association between the use of mobile phones and hearing and vision comp...
It is concluded that the use of mobile phone is a health risk factor, and thus it is suggested that excessive use of mobile phones should be avoided and social awareness increased through health promotion activities, such as group discussions or public presentations and via electronic and printed media sources.
Show BibTeX
@article{sa_2005_mobile_phone_relatedhazards_and_2421,
author = {Meo SA and Al-Drees AM},
title = {Mobile phone related-hazards and subjective hearing and vision symptoms in the Saudi population},
year = {2005},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16052891/},
}