scholarly journals Does mobile phone use of women during pregnancy cause hearing problems in infants? Preliminary observation

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-107
Author(s):  
Hava Bektaş ◽  
Süleyman Daşdağ ◽  
Mehmet Selçuk Bektaş

Objective Some studies have claimed that long-term conversation with mobile phones can cause hearing loss. However, it has not been investigated whether exposure to mobile phones during pregnancy affects the hearing of babies in the womb. Therefore, the aim of this human study was to investigate the effects of intrauterine radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure emitted from mobile phones on the hearing of newborns. Methods The study population comprised 149 newborns. Pregnant women in this study were divided into 4 groups according to RFR exposure duration, such as non-exposure to RFR, exposure to RFR for 2–15 min/day, exposure to RFR for 15–60 min/day, and exposure to RFR for more than 60 min/day. The results of the hearing screening analyses of the newborns, which were performed using transiently evoked otoacoustic emission and auto auditory brainstem response, were investigated retrospectively. Results The results of this study indicated that 900 and 1800 MHz RFR exposure during pregnancy did not cause hearing loss in newborns. Conclusion In conclusion, we observed that the hearing sensitivity and peripheral sound perception of newborns were not affected by RFR exposure emitted from mobile phones during the intrauterine period. Further studies should be performed to illuminate the subject.

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 336-344
Author(s):  
Jingqian Tan ◽  
Jia Luo ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Yanbing Jiang ◽  
Xiangli Zeng ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Auditory brainstem response (ABR) is one of the commonly used methods in clinical settings to evaluate the hearing sensitivity and auditory function. The current ABR measurement usually adopts click sound as the stimuli. However, there may be partial ABR amplitude attenuation due to the delay characteristics of the cochlear traveling wave along the basilar membrane. To solve that problem, a swept-tone method was proposed, in which the show-up time of different frequency components was adjusted to compensate the delay characteristics of the cochlear basilar membrane; therefore, different ABR subcomponents of different frequencies were synchronized. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The normal hearing group, moderate sensorineural hearing loss group, and severe sensorineural hearing loss group underwent click ABR and swept-tone ABR with different stimulus intensities. The latencies and amplitudes of waves I, III, and V in 2 detections were recorded. <b><i>Results:</i></b> It was found that the latency of each of the recorded I, III, and V waves detected by swept-tone ABR was shorter than that by click ABR in both the control group and experimental groups. In addition, the amplitude of each of the recorded I, III, and V waves, except V waves under 60 dB nHL in the moderate sensorineural hearing loss group, detected by swept-tone ABR was larger than that by click ABR. The results also showed that the swept-tone ABR could measure the visible V waves at lower stimulus levels in the severe sensorineural hearing loss group. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Swept-tone improves the ABR waveforms and helps to obtain more accurate threshold to some extent. Therefore, the proposed swept-tone ABR may provide a new solution for better morphology of ABR waveform, which can help to make more accurate diagnosis about the hearing functionality in the clinic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (06) ◽  
pp. 493-501
Author(s):  
Skylar Trott ◽  
Trey Cline ◽  
Jeffrey Weihing ◽  
Deidra Beshear ◽  
Matthew Bush ◽  
...  

AbstractEstrogen has been identified as playing a key role in many organ systems. Recently, estrogen has been found to be produced in the human brain and is believed contribute to central auditory processing. After menopause, a low estrogen state, many women report hearing loss but demonstrate no deficits in peripheral hearing sensitivity, which support the notion that estrogen plays an effect on central auditory processing. Although animal research on estrogen and hearing loss is extensive, there is little in the literature on the human model.The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between hormonal changes and hearing as it relates to higher auditory function in pre- and postmenopausal (Post-M) females.A prospective, group comparison study.Twenty eight women between the ages of 18 and 70 at the University of Kentucky were recruited.Participants were separated into premenopausal and peri-/Post-M groups. Participants had normal peripheral hearing sensitivity and underwent a behavioral auditory processing battery and electrophysiological evaluation. An analysis of variance was performed to address the aims of the study.Results from the study demonstrated statistically significant difference between groups, where Post-M females had difficulties in spatial hearing abilities as reflected on the Listening in Spatialized Noise Test–Sentences test. In addition, measures on the auditory brainstem response and the middle latency response reflected statistically significant differences between groups with Post-M females having longer latencies.Results from the present study demonstrated significant differences between groups, particularly listening in noise. Females who present with auditory complaints in spite of normal hearing thresholds should have a more extensive audiological evaluation to further evaluate possible central deficits.


2020 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-74
Author(s):  
Daria Fedorchenko ◽  
Vyacheslav Didkovsky

Background: The main purpose of study was to assess the impact of using mobile phones among young Ukrainians (age 17-25) on auditory system. We conducted a study using anonymous questionnaires and with using a method of objective audiometry (otoacoustic emission). Finally, we compared our results with results of studies which were conducted in Sweden and Finland. Those studies were first among all the others with assessment of association between amount of mobile phone use and frequency of headache, tinnitus or hearing loss at 4-year follow-up. Methods: The participants were chosen among volunteers (n=251). All of them received anonymous questionnaires. We made stratified sample by age, sex, type of phone used, duration of phone calls, using of headphones during calls, symptoms appearing after using cell phone (headache, tinnitus, hearing loss). Results: The age of respondents was 17-25 years (32,3% - 22 years, 13,1% - 19 years, 12,4% - 20 years, 10,8% - 23 years., 8,4% - 21 years., 8% - 18 years, 7,6% - 17 years, 2,8% - 24р., 2,8% - 25 years). Due to this data the median age of participants was 22 years. Sex: female – 74.3%, male – 25.7%. Most of participants were using mobile phones (99.2%). 51.8% of respondents were always using headphones during phone calls, 8.8% - never used headphones during phone calls, 39,4% - were rarely using headphones during phone calls.  We assess the association between mobile phone use and appearing symptoms after phone calls. 3.6% of respondents reported a headache after phone calls, 96.4% were free of this symptom after phone calls. 58.2% reported headache at least once a week, 41.8% - were free of this symptom. 42.2% of respondents reported tinnitus: 1.6% reported tinnitus every day, 4.8% once in 2-3 days, 35.9% reported this symptom rarely (less than once a week). 57.8% of respondents were free of tinnitus. 21.5% of respondents reported hearing loss, 78.5% were free of hearing loss. Most of respondents associate headache with fatigue, sleep deprivation, stress, weather change, sleep disorders, arterial hypertension, hunger, frequent phone calls. Respondents who complained of hearing loss were offered to pass objective audiometry (optoacoustic emission).6 respondents took part in this examination. In 85 ears of respondents (71%) who complained of hearing loss it occurs on 8000 Hz. In 95 ears of respondents (79%) who complained of hearing loss it occurs on 5714 Hz. Pearson correlation coefficient between our results and results of Northern Europe studies was 0.935, suggesting a strong linear association.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie K. Climer ◽  
Aubrey J. Hornak ◽  
Kaitlin Murtha ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Andrew M. Cox ◽  
...  

Ca2+ signaling is a major contributor to sensory hair cell function in the cochlea. Oncomodulin (OCM) is a Ca2+ binding protein (CaBP) preferentially expressed in outer hair cells (OHCs) of the cochlea and few other specialized cell types. Here, we expand on our previous reports and show that OCM delays hearing loss in mice of two different genetic backgrounds: CBA/CaJ and C57Bl/6J. In both backgrounds, genetic disruption of Ocm leads to early progressive hearing loss as measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). In both strains, loss of Ocm reduced hearing across lifetime (hearing span) by more than 50% relative to wild type (WT). Even though the two WT strains have very different hearing spans, OCM plays a considerable and similar role within their genetic environment to regulate hearing function. The accelerated age-related hearing loss (ARHL) of the Ocm KO illustrates the importance of Ca2+ signaling in maintaining hearing health. Manipulation of OCM and Ca2+ signaling may reveal important clues to the systems of function/dysfunction that lead to ARHL.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie K Climer ◽  
Aubrey J Hornak ◽  
Kaitlin Murtha ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Andrew M Cox ◽  
...  

Ca2+ signaling is a major contributor to sensory hair cell function in the cochlea. Oncomodulin (OCM) is a Ca2+ binding protein preferentially expressed in outer hair cells of the cochlea and few other specialized cell types. Here, we expand on our previous reports and show that OCM prevents early progressive hearing loss in mice of two different genetic backgrounds: CBA/CaJ and C57Bl/6J. In both backgrounds, genetic disruption of Ocm leads to early progressive hearing loss as measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). In both strains, loss of Ocm reduced hearing across lifetime (hearing span) by more than 50% relative to wild type (WT). Even though the two WT strains have very different hearing spans, OCM plays a considerable and similar role within their genetic environment to regulate hearing function. The accelerated ARHL of the Ocm KO illustrates the importance of Ca2+ signaling in maintaining hearing health.


1987 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen C.M. Campbell ◽  
Paul J. Abbas

Auditory brainstem responses were recorded in two groups of adult subjects with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss. Clicks were presented at repetition rates of 9.7, 39.7, 49.7, and 59.7/s. One group was composed of 20 patients with no known otoneurologic lesion (cochlear group), and one group was composed of 8 patients with a surgically confirmed acoustic neuroma in the ear with poorer hearing sensitivity (retrocochlear group). Detection of wave V at different repetition rates was not significantly different between the two groups. Average wave-V latency shift was not significantly different between the two groups as repetition rate increased from 9.7/s to 39.7/s but was significantly greater for the retroeochlear group as repetition rate increased from 9.7/s to 49.7/s and 59.7/s. However, the wave-V latency shift showed no improvement over the slow-rate interaural wave-V latency difference in discriminating between the two groups of patients. No significant correlation between the amount of wave-V latency shift and hearing loss at 2000 Hz or 4000 Hz was found for the ears with poorer hearing sensitivity.


2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl R. White ◽  
Betty R. Vohr ◽  
Sally Meyer ◽  
Judith E. Widen ◽  
Jean L. Johnson ◽  
...  

Purpose: Most newborns are screened for hearing loss, and many hospitals use a 2-stage protocol in which all infants are screened first with otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). In this protocol, no additional testing is done for those passing the OAE screening, but infants failing the OAE are also screened with automated auditory brainstem response (A-ABR). This study evaluated how many infants who failed the OAE and passed the A-ABR had permanent hearing loss (PHL) at 8–12 months of age. Method: A total of 86,634 infants were screened at 7 birthing centers using a 2-stage OAE/A-ABR hearing screening protocol. Of infants who failed the OAE but passed the A-ABR, 1,524 were enrolled in the study. Diagnostic audiologic evaluations were performed on 64% of the enrolled infants (1,432 ears from 973 infants) when they were 8–12 months old. Results: Twenty-one infants (30 ears) who passed the newborn A-ABR hearing screening were identified with PHL when they were 8–12 months old. Most (71%) had mild hearing loss. Conclusions: If all infants were screened for hearing loss using a typical 2-stage OAE/A-ABR protocol, approximately 23% of those with PHL at 8–12 months of age would have passed the A-ABR.


2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean L. Johnson ◽  
Karl R. White ◽  
Judith E. Widen ◽  
Judith S. Gravel ◽  
Betty R. Vohr ◽  
...  

Purpose: This article is the 1st in a series of 4 articles on a recently completed multistate study of newborn hearing screening. Method: The study examined the efficacy of the 2-stage otoacoustic emission/automated auditory brainstem response (OAE/A-ABR) protocol for identifying hearing loss in newborns. Results: The study found that the 2-stage OAE/A-ABR protocol did miss a significant number of babies who exhibited a permanent hearing loss by 1 year of age. Three subsequent articles will describe the research design and results in detail, discuss the behavioral assessment of infants, and summarize the implications of the study for policy, practice, and research.


2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith E. Widen ◽  
Jean L. Johnson ◽  
Karl R. White ◽  
Judith S. Gravel ◽  
Betty R. Vohr ◽  
...  

Purpose: This 3rd of 4 articles on a study of the efficacy of the 2-stage otoacoustic emission/automated auditory brainstem response (OAE/A-ABR) newborn hearing screening protocol describes (a) the behavioral audiometric protocol used to validate hearing status at 8–12 months of age, (b) the hearing status of the sample, and (c) the success of the visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) protocol across 7 sites. Method: A total of 973 infants who failed OAE but passed A-ABR, in one or both ears, during newborn screening were tested with a VRA protocol, supplemented by tympanometry and OAE screening at age 8–12 months. Results: VRA audiograms (1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz) were obtained for 1,184 (82.7%) of the 1,432 study ears. Hearing loss was ruled out in another 100 ears by VRA in combination with OAE, for a total of 88.7% of the study sample. Permanent hearing loss was identified in 30 ears of 21 infants. Sites differed in their success with the VRA protocol. Conclusions: Continued monitoring of hearing beyond the newborn period is an important component of early detection of hearing loss. Using a structured protocol, VRA is an appropriate test method for most, but not all, infants. A battery of test procedures is often needed to adequately delineate hearing loss in infants. Examiner experience appears to be a factor in successful VRA.


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