Cell Phone Use Causes Hearing Loss, Study Finds

The team of researchers caution that "[their] intention is not to scare the public" and "there is as yet no cause for alarm." They also don't give any explanation of why a cell phone is any more dangerous for hearing than a traditional headset. But, if you're a heavy cell phone user and value your (or your children's) hearing, you might want to think about laying off the babbling a bit.
From textually.org
Related Links:
- Purdue University To Test Emergency Text Messaging System
- Lost? Get There By Text Message
- Direct-to-Cell Phone Advertising Coming





Whitney Houston Dead: Singer Dies at 48, Body Found in Beverly Hilton Hotel
Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina: Late Singer's Daughter Hospitalized
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Whitney Houston Autopsy: Cause of Death Determined?
Grammy Red Carpet 2012 (PHOTOS)
Tips for flying cheaper in 2012
Grammy 2012 Winners' List: Adele Sweeps Music's Biggest Night
There's only one thing to do when the Nürburgring is covered in snow...
Tax Reform in This Election Year: It's Not Likely
Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown: Ex-Husband Honors Singer Onstage














Comments
29
Subscribe to commentsDarlenaFeb 11th 2008 4:54PM
I used a cell phone extensively with an earplug going into my right ear for 5 years and now have discovered that I have a dramatic drop in my hearing in my right ear. The audiologist asked if anything traumatic happened to my right ear and the only thing I could think of was my cell phone usage. I now have to wear hearing aides. Upon discovering the cellphone vs hearing loss study, I only use the speaker when talking on the cell phone.
kimMay 30th 2008 5:21AM
i talked last night for over 3 hrs on the phone-two on headphone and the other hour on a Motorolla. funny thing, i used my left ear heavily without the earphone. i woke up half deaf on the left ear, and a lot less so on the right, and with slight balancing trouble too. can someone tell us more pliz-it's too early in my life to get deaf on a carreer that relies heavily on conversation. everyone by now knows that even 10 min on some phones will make u feel like some very thin worm is getting into your ears.
and can someone tell me how to manage this??!
WMREICHARDJul 7th 2009 10:55PM
IT IS DANGEROUS TO USE THE CELULAR PHONE WHILE CHARGING IT?PLEASE ANSWER.THANKS
DonSep 20th 2007 12:48PM
If you have Speakerphone option,use it all the time.
seashell253Sep 20th 2007 3:16PM
What about bluetooth headset usage?
WilhelmSep 20th 2007 2:08PM
No wonder, the cell is nothing more than a microwave generator. We are cooking our ears.
Remember when the invented the microwave oven at NASA? When it was found to be dangerous at levels of radiation needed for cooking, the government simply elevated the safe threshold value to make them "safe".
Pay attention people.
PaulSep 20th 2007 2:22PM
High frequency hearing loss is the first thing that happens. Loud sounds contribute to this. Too loud and too much usage aggravates this. Radio frequency energy has nothing to do with it. Microwave( ovens, radar, etc.} energy is in the hundreds of watts. Cell phone energy is in milliwatts. (1 onethousanth of a watt.) The study did not involve enough people to make the survey really valid. More scare tactics from the media.
FLETCHER PHELANSep 20th 2007 3:24PM
GREAT NEWS. MAYBE SOME OF THE CARELESS DRIVERS WHO INSIST ON USING CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING WILL CURTAIL PHONE USE WHILE THEY DRIVE, THUS REDUCING SOMEWHAT THE DANGERS OF THE ROAD THEY CAUSE.
DennisSep 20th 2007 3:29PM
Well that settles that! I'm not getting any heavy cell phones! Just light cell phones for me from now on!
GrammySep 20th 2007 3:57PM
I think that instead of the cellphones you need not look any further than the usage of head phones with music. On the internet as well as on the other instruments that are being used every day by young people.
jeffSep 20th 2007 4:12PM
What!?
Richard MilfordSep 20th 2007 4:48PM
Yes unfortunately microwaves do emit out of cell phones Cell phones create heat that goes into your ear thus into your brain
WeezieSep 20th 2007 4:57PM
"You talking to me?"
PauletteSep 20th 2007 5:16PM
I don't believe that at all, since we use the house phone what is different about cell phones? Just trying to find away to get people off the their phones.
Richard MilfordSep 20th 2007 6:26PM
Everybody thinks that this is a media scare but cell phones do give out electromagnetic pollution and you should take steps to prevent that or at least neutralize it
DavidSep 20th 2007 6:29PM
EXCUSE ME?? WHAT?? WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT??
RollandoSep 20th 2007 6:01PM
Moderation is the key.
Does one really need to speak that long on the phone? Long distance is one thing. But if you are only minutes away, why not set a time to meet in person in the near future for a conversation you know will be long.
I always limit my time on the phone whereever and whenever I can. I think it is silly to be on the phone for more than 5 to 10 minutes. If it is a serious emergency or very long distance I'll make the exception.
JaculisSep 20th 2007 5:59PM
Was an analysis of of normal variance performed [ANOVA] to determine whether this is a population independent of other phone uses or other sounds sources, in other words is this a coincident population that experiences loud sound-compressed noises in general?
Just wondering...
wolfSep 20th 2007 6:29PM
It is also true that in the USA, using cell phones while driving kills close to as many people every year as we lost in the 9/11 attacks. Safety experts say that at least 5% of fatal vehicle accidents can be traced to lack of attention by a driver using a cell phone. With about 45,000 vehicle accident fatalities in this country every year, that comes out to at LEAST 2200 people dead because some idiots insist on driving while using their cell phones. I have had aa few close calls from somebody not paying attention because of this, and a friend missed months of work and was lucky not to be paralyzed when nut case woman on a cell phone read-ended his car while he was stopped at a red light. Use these devices with COMMON SENSE, please.
HelenSep 20th 2007 8:09PM
I just want to say that I am 23, and recently found out that I have a moderate degree of hearing loss. I am getting hearing aids soon, and wonder if my hearing loss is partially due to my past overuse of the cell phone. I haven't really used the cell phone so much in the past couple of years, but I used to use it quite a bit. Hmmmmmmm . . . .