Study of Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry in Medical Students Having Long Time Mobile Usage

Abstract

Background: Mobile phones are undoubtedly one of the most revolutionizing inventions of the 21st century and are indispensable communication tools. Concomitantly, there has also been a potential increase in the health risks associated with prolonged mobile phone usage. Electromagnetic radiations emitted from telecommunication systems absorbed by the recipient's body may bring about changes in the brain electrical activity. Brainstem evoked response audiometry allows quantifying the activity of auditory pathway, and hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the auditory evoked potentials in the MBBS students who have been long-term mobile users. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using Evoked Potential Recorder (RMS EMGEP MARK-II) in the Neurophysiology unit, Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences. This was an observational noninterventional study design incorporating a total of 50 MBBS students, from institutional campus using mobile phones for >1 year. 25 students who used mobile phones for <30 min/day formed the controls whereas, 25 students who used mobile phones for >30 min/day formed the test group. Results: The mean age among the test group was 17.5 ± 1.4 years and among controls was 16.2 ± 2.0 years. The average latency (both the right and left ear) of waves I–V and interpeak latencies (IPLs) I–III, III–V, and I–V waves were found to be prolonged (P > 0.001) in the test group when compared to controls. The mean latencies of the left ear were significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged as compared to the right ear in the test group. Conclusion: This study revealed that there is a significant prolongation in the absolute latencies and IPLs in mobile phone users associated with the duration of usage.