Does the duration of mobile phone usage affect the human auditory system? A middle latency auditory-evoked potential study in young adults

Abstract

Background: Mobile phones emit microwave range of electromagnetic radiations. The human auditory cortex has a greater chance of being affected by these radiations due to the close proximity during usage. Middle latency auditory-evoked potential (MLAEP) recording helps in testing the integrity of the thalamo-cortical pathway of the human auditory system. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives are (1) to compare the latencies of MLAEPs in short-and long-term mobile phone users based on years of usage and (2) to compare the latencies of MLAEPs in mobile phone users grouped based on the duration of usage per day. Materials and Methods: MLAEP recording was done in 20 short-and long-term mobile users described as the history of usage of mobile phone less than and more than 1 year, respectively. Further, the group was categorized based on the duration of usage per day. Mean latencies of the MLAEP waves Na, Pa, and Nb were measured and compared statistically using Student's t-test (two tailed, independent) and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean latencies of MLAEP waveforms in both the ears were found to be significantly increased in long-term mobile phone users and in individuals who use mobile phones for more than 1 h per day. Conclusion: The study shows that long-term usage, as well as longer duration of usage of mobile phones, significantly affects the nerve conduction velocity in the thalamo-cortical region of the human auditory pathway.