scholarly journals Study of the effect of mobile phones on hearing

Author(s):  
Karumuthil Swaroop ◽  
Sanjay Kumar ◽  
Anshul Bansal ◽  
Pushkar Khare ◽  
Deepak V. Chauhan ◽  
...  

<p><strong>Background</strong>:<strong> </strong>The effect of mobile phone radiation on human health is the subject of recent interest and study as a result of the enormous increase in mobile phone usage throughout the world. The present study was designed with an objective to study the effect of mobile phones on hearing.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: This cross sectional study involved cases in the age group of 18 to 45 years attending the out-patient department of ENT at Chhatrapati Shivaji Subharti hospital, Meerut. A total of 85 patients (mobile phone users) were taken for the study October 2018 to July 2020. Subjects with usage of mobile phones (smart phones) for a minimum of 2 hours a day and a minimum of 1 year duration (with or without ear phones), normal healthy individuals with no systemic disease, normal tympanic membrane with no prior external, middle/inner ear disease or discharge or trauma and subjects with type a tympanogram (on tympanometry) were included in the study. Degree of deafness was graded according to WHO classification, 1980</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Statistically significant p value was observed (&lt;0.001) while comparing SNHL with hours of exposure and years of exposure. Statistically significant p value was observed (&lt;0.05) while comparing hours of exposure with Tinnitus. Statistically insignificant p value was observed while comparing hours and years of exposure with other associated complaints; aural fullness, ear ache (otalgia) and warmth sensation in ear.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: The present study shows an increase in the hearing threshold of the ear exposed to the prolonged use of mobile phones.</p>

Author(s):  
Shiny George ◽  
Namitha Saif ◽  
Biju Baby Joseph

Background: Mobile phones have become an essential part of life. It has become an important accessory carried by everybody not only because they make it easy to keep in touch with people but because of the various facilities they offer especially the internet. The charm of mobile phone is more among young generation and the increasing use may result in dependence. Aim was to study the usage pattern and dependence of mobile phones among medical students.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted among 200 medical students and studied the pattern of usage of mobile phones, common problems encountered and its dependence using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis done using chi square test and a p value of <0.05 is taken as significant.Results: In the present study 35% of the students were frequent users that is they used for >30 minutes per day. Female students were talking more to their parents and male students to their friends followed by their lovers. 49 of them never used to attend the call while driving and 58 of them used to stop the vehicle and attend the call. (p=0.002) Mobile phone dependence was also found to be increased which is evident from ringxiety experienced by 68 students (34%) and waking up from sleep to check the mobile for call or message by 62 students(p=0.000). Out of 68 students with ringxiety, 69% were males and 37% were females (p=0.040). 82 participants (41%) commented that life without mobile will be boring and 50 (25%) said that they will feel alone or unsafe (p=0.001).Conclusions: As dependence is increasing with the excessive use of mobile phones, some interventions are required to motivate the youth against it. 


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Jie Xie ◽  
Daphne SK Cheung ◽  
Alice Y Loke ◽  
Bernice L Nogueira ◽  
Karry M Liu ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND No study has comprehensively investigated the association between the usage of typical screen-based electronic media devices and sleep quality in a Chinese population with individuals in a wide range of ages. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to understand the characteristics of television (TV) viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage in a representative Chinese population in Macau and to examine their roles in predicting the variations in sleep quality. METHODS This cross-sectional study was an analysis of 1500 Macau residents aged 15 to 90 years based on a community-based health needs assessment study entitled, “Healthy Living, Longer Lives.” Data collection was conducted in 7 districts of Macau from 2017 to 2018 through face-to-face interviews. The durations of daily TV viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage were recorded in a self-administered questionnaire. The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality. RESULTS The prevalence of TV, computer, and mobile phone usage was 78.4% (1176/1500), 51.6% (769/1490), and 85.5% (1276/1492), respectively. The average daily hours of usage were 1.75 (1.62), 1.53 (2.26), and 2.85 (2.47) hours, respectively. Females spent more time watching TV (<i>P</i>=.03) and using mobile phones (<i>P</i>=.02) and less time on the computer (<i>P</i>=.04) as compared to males. Older adults were more likely to watch TV while young people spent more time using the computer and mobile phones (<i>P</i> for all trends&lt;.001). The mean PSQI global score was 4.79 (2.80) among the participants. Females exhibited significantly higher PSQI scores than males (5.04 vs 4.49, respectively; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). No linear association was observed between the PSQI score and the amount of time spent on the 3 electronic devices (<i>P</i>=.58 for PSQI-TV, <i>P</i>=.05 for PSQI-computer, and <i>P</i>=.52 for PSQI-mobile phone). Curve estimation showed significant quadratic curvilinear associations in PSQI-TV (<i>P</i>=.003) and PSQI-computer (<i>P</i>&lt;.001) among all the participants and in PSQI-mobile phone among youths (age, 15-24 years; <i>P</i>=.04). After adjustment of the gender, age, body mass index, demographics, and lifestyle factors, more than 3 hours of TV viewing and 4 hours of computer usage or mobile phone usage was associated with 85% (95% CI 1.04-1.87; <i>P</i>=.008), 72% (95% CI 1.01-2.92; <i>P</i>=.045), and 53% (95% CI 1.06-2.22; <i>P</i>=.03) greater odds of having poor sleep quality (PSQI score&gt;5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The mobile phone was the most popular screen-based electronic device used in the Macau population, especially among young people. “J” shape associations were observed between sleep quality and the duration of TV viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage, indicating that the extreme use of screen-based electronic devices predicted poorer sleep status, whereas moderate use would be acceptable.


Author(s):  
Lubna Farooq ◽  
Akhtar Ali ◽  
Sehrish Mahmood ◽  
Mahnoor Farzand ◽  
Hina Masood ◽  
...  

Introduction:In the era of modern technology mobile phones have becoming popular, especially in teenagers. Besides of its uses there are various undesirable psychological and physical impact on heath. Aims and objectives: The purpose of this study was to access the link among Excessive Use of Smart Phone and there sleep pattern among Pakistani Adolescents. Materials and Methods: A detailed cross sectional study was performed on a total of 500 medical graduates range between 18 and 24 years who were using mobile phone atleast a year. Self-designed Questionnaire is given to them having details of their frequency and pattern of using smart phone. Sleep quality was analyzed by using Pittsburg Sleep Quality index .Chi square test was also perform to check the link between frequency of mobile phone and quality of sleep.P value < 0.005 were considered as significant. Result: Out of 500 participants, the frequency of mobile phone usage was more in males 70% as compare to females30%. Their age varied from 21to 24 with mean age of 20 ± 1.9 years.  Most of students use mobile phone in night 188 (38%)and 202 (40%) participants using mobile phone unlimited. 366 (73%) students mentioned that they start using mobile phone at intermediate level and claimed that no surveillance of the mobile phone being done by the parents . Students who were using unlimited mobile phone reported that they take more than 1 hour to sleep that showed a significant (p-value <0.001) correlation between more mobile phone use and time taken to sleep. Conclusion: The results of our study conclude that excessive mobile phone usage leads to sleep disturbances and poor quality of sleep. That may implement negative effects on student’s mental and physical health along with this it can also affect the students’ educational performance and daily life activities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Darvishi ◽  
Majid Noori ◽  
Mohammad Reza Nazer ◽  
Soheil Sheikholeslami ◽  
Ebrahim Karimi

BACKGROUND: Today, mobile phones are recognised as an inseparable part of our daily lives, facilitating communication between users. Based on the studies, addiction to cell phones can lead to several complications including depression, anxiety, anger, and aggression. AIM: This study aimed to investigate nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) among medical students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Branch. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 students studying in different majors of medical sciences in Islamic Azad University, Tehran Branch, from 2016 to 2017. Demographic data of all participants were recorded in a data sheet. In the next stage, a questionnaire was designed by the researcher to evaluate the effect of age, gender, education, and the duration of using cell phone variables on discomfort, anxiety, and insecurity due to lack of access to cell phone or other related issues. Raw data were analysed using SPSS statistical software version 21. The significance level was considered P < 0.05. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that participants with lower mean age felt more discomfort, anger, anxiety, and insecurity due to lack of access to mobile phones and other related issues compared to other people. However, no variable was statistically significant (P-value > 0.05). Except anxiety, results showed that longer duration of mobile phone use might lead to a significant decrease in discomfort, anger, and insensibility variables among users (P-value > 0.05). The incidence of nomophobia (with its different aspects) was significantly lower in females (P-value > 0.05). Also, in participants with higher educational status, the nomophobia was recorded to be more frequent (P-Value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Understanding the pattern of nomophobia occurrence among cell phone users can facilitate our path to prevent its harms including discomfort, anger, anxiety, and feeling of insecurity among users of technology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (224) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kriti Thapa ◽  
Sami Lama ◽  
Rita Pokharel ◽  
Rambha Sigdel ◽  
Surya Prasad Rimal

Introduction: Mobile phones are becoming increasingly indispensable in daily life of the studentswhich has resulted in mobile phone dependence. The objective of the study was to find the prevalenceof mobile phone dependence among undergraduate students of a medical college of Eastern Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2016 to March 2017on a total of 390 undergraduate students aged between 17 and 25 years using stratified samplingtechnique. Students using mobile phones for more than one year was included in the study. Studentswere requested to complete a pretested self-administered questionnaire which comprised theirsocio-demographic characteristics, pattern of mobile phone usage and mobile phone addiction indexdeveloped by Leung. Results: The prevalence of mobile phone dependence among the undergraduate students was foundto be 85 (21.8%). Mobile phone dependence was found to be related with time spend on mobile; callsper day, money spend on recharge per month and years of ownership of mobile phone. There wasno difference between males and females with regard to mobile phone dependence. Conclusions: The present study found that mobile phone dependence was common among theundergraduate medical students. These results suggest the need to develop educational programmeto educate the students to use mobile phone meaningfully.


10.2196/18095 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. e18095
Author(s):  
Yao Jie Xie ◽  
Daphne SK Cheung ◽  
Alice Y Loke ◽  
Bernice L Nogueira ◽  
Karry M Liu ◽  
...  

Background No study has comprehensively investigated the association between the usage of typical screen-based electronic media devices and sleep quality in a Chinese population with individuals in a wide range of ages. Objective This study aimed to understand the characteristics of television (TV) viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage in a representative Chinese population in Macau and to examine their roles in predicting the variations in sleep quality. Methods This cross-sectional study was an analysis of 1500 Macau residents aged 15 to 90 years based on a community-based health needs assessment study entitled, “Healthy Living, Longer Lives.” Data collection was conducted in 7 districts of Macau from 2017 to 2018 through face-to-face interviews. The durations of daily TV viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage were recorded in a self-administered questionnaire. The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality. Results The prevalence of TV, computer, and mobile phone usage was 78.4% (1176/1500), 51.6% (769/1490), and 85.5% (1276/1492), respectively. The average daily hours of usage were 1.75 (1.62), 1.53 (2.26), and 2.85 (2.47) hours, respectively. Females spent more time watching TV (P=.03) and using mobile phones (P=.02) and less time on the computer (P=.04) as compared to males. Older adults were more likely to watch TV while young people spent more time using the computer and mobile phones (P for all trends<.001). The mean PSQI global score was 4.79 (2.80) among the participants. Females exhibited significantly higher PSQI scores than males (5.04 vs 4.49, respectively; P<.001). No linear association was observed between the PSQI score and the amount of time spent on the 3 electronic devices (P=.58 for PSQI-TV, P=.05 for PSQI-computer, and P=.52 for PSQI-mobile phone). Curve estimation showed significant quadratic curvilinear associations in PSQI-TV (P=.003) and PSQI-computer (P<.001) among all the participants and in PSQI-mobile phone among youths (age, 15-24 years; P=.04). After adjustment of the gender, age, body mass index, demographics, and lifestyle factors, more than 3 hours of TV viewing and 4 hours of computer usage or mobile phone usage was associated with 85% (95% CI 1.04-1.87; P=.008), 72% (95% CI 1.01-2.92; P=.045), and 53% (95% CI 1.06-2.22; P=.03) greater odds of having poor sleep quality (PSQI score>5), respectively. Conclusions The mobile phone was the most popular screen-based electronic device used in the Macau population, especially among young people. “J” shape associations were observed between sleep quality and the duration of TV viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage, indicating that the extreme use of screen-based electronic devices predicted poorer sleep status, whereas moderate use would be acceptable.


Author(s):  
Nagapraveen Veerapu ◽  
Ravi Kumar Baer Philip ◽  
Hanisha Vasireddy ◽  
Sowmya Gurrala ◽  
Swathi Tapaswi Kanna

Background: Social media and digital communication have become a part of life. Many things were made easy through online connectivity. The mobile phones not only connects people at anytime, anywhere and with anybody, but also movable and portable. Mobile phones when used extensively may cause a number of physical and psychological problems. Nomophobia (NO-MObile phone-PHOBIA) is one of the psychological problems related to exclusive use of mobile phone. It is the fear/anxiety of being away from mobile phone contact. The objectives are to study grading of nomophobia and to find out any correlation exits between nomophobia and sleeping difficulty and anxiety among medical students.Methods: A cross sectional study is conducted for duration of 6 months among medical students using semi-structured questionnaire. Nomophobia questionnaire (NMP-Q) is used to assess nomophobia, Athens insomnia scale is used to assess sleeping difficulty and general anxiety disorder- 7 Item scale is used to assess general anxiety.Results: The study showed that out of 364 students, 62 (17%) have mild, 234 (64.3%) have moderate and 68 (18.7%) have severe nomophobia. There is a weak positive correlation between nomophobia and sleeping difficult and anxiety.Conclusions: There problem of nomophobia is alarming; there is a need to reduce nomophobia, and to evolve effective strategies to enhance human interaction.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godson R. E. E. Ana ◽  
Anthony E. Ukhun ◽  
Derek G. Shendell ◽  
Patience A. Osisanya

Background. Exposure to noise from mobile devices is suspected to affect hearing. Data are limited, particularly in less developed countries. We assessed noise levels from mobile phones and user audiometric status at University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in an initial cross-sectional study. Methods. Fifty-eight staff and 45 young adult students owning mobile phones were selected. A pretested questionnaire assessed demographics, phone attributes, and predominant ear used for making and receiving calls. Noise was measured in A-weighted decibels. Pure tone audiometry was conducted at varying frequencies. Statistics computed included Chi-square and t-tests. Results. Certain phone brands used by students were commonly reported. More utilized right ears to make or receive calls. Mean reported mobile phone use duration by students was 2.9±1.7 years, lower than among staff, 3.4±1.9 years (P<0.05). There were differences in use of head phones (22.2%, 12.1%) and speakers (51.1%, 15.5%) by students and staff, respectively (P<0.05). Mean measured noise levels of phones when ringing, per user settings, were high 91.9±16.1 dBA (students) and 93.3±10.9 dBA (staff). Audiometry suggested 22.2% students and 28.0% staff had some evidence of hearing impairment. Conclusions. Mobile phones noise levels were high, but exposures though frequent were of short duration. Larger, longitudinal studies are needed on phone use and hearing impairment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-74
Author(s):  
Esfandiar Matini ◽  
Farzad Shayeghi ◽  
Javad Nematian ◽  
Homeyra Shayeghi ◽  
Vahideh Lazemi ◽  
...  

Background: Mobile smart phones have become increasingly integrated into the daily lives of individuals in society. Recent studies indicated the considerable role of these devices as reservoirs for various micro-organisms. The objective of this study was to assess the prev­alence of microbiological contamination of mobile phones in general population. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a large sample of mobile phones of gen­eral population Tehran in 2015. Samples for culture were collected from mobile phones and transported for microbiological identification based on standard laboratory methods. Results: Bacteriological analysis revealed that in total of 5220 sample retrieved, 5180 (98.9%) mobile phone devices were contaminated with bacteria. The most common microorganisms that were isolated include: Staphylococcus epidermidis (63.9), Escherichia coli (12.3%) and Staphylo­coccus aureus (11.4%). Conclusion: The prevalence of mobile phone contamination is high in general population in Tehran. Although most of the isolated organisms seemed to be non-patho­genic, their colonization may endanger certain populations particularly in health care settings. [GMJ.2016;5(2):70-74]


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-11
Author(s):  
Raziya Bobat ◽  
Moherndran Archary ◽  
Melissa Lawler ◽  
Sajeeda Mawlana ◽  
Kimesh L. Naidoo ◽  
...  

Background: Hospital acquired infections are on the increase worldwide. A possible source for transmission is the presence of microorganisms on mobile phones which are carried by increasing numbers of medical and nursing staff, students, and caregivers.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Samples were obtained from medical and nursing staff, students, and caregivers from the paediatric wards (85 beds), and the neonatal unit (40 beds) at King Edward VIII Hospital (KEH), Durban. Mobile phones of participants were sampled, with sterile swabs, without prior warning. The swabs were transported promptly to the laboratory and cultured onto colistin, nalidixic acid agar and MacConkey agar plates. All positive cultures were identified using standard laboratory tests.Results: Of the 100 mobile phones sampled, 30 were contaminated with bacteria. Gram-positive microorganisms were more frequently cultured than Gram-negative microorganisms (29 vs. 7). Significantly more caregivers had contaminated phones (54.17% vs. 22.37%, p value = 0.003). Caregivers’ phones were predominantly contaminated with Staphylococcus spp. (41.67%). More phones in the general wards (37.5%) and nursery (32.5%) were contaminated compared to the gastroenteritis ward (10%).Conclusions: Our results indicate that one third of the mobile phones carried in the paediatric wards are contaminated. Caregivers had the highest likelihood of carrying mobile phones that were contaminated, with the lowest rate among the nursing staff. Caregivers’ phones were also more likely to have multiple microorganisms. The lowest rate of contamination was found in the gastroenteritis ward, possibly due to a heightened awareness of the need for handwashing.


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