Though not proven scientifically, excess use of mobile affects hearing function

By Vikas Vaidya

With advances coming in the technology, mobile has become an integral part of human life. Use of mobile has rose to large extent. Mobile has video, photos, songs and all. Attaching headphone to it and listening to any damn thing has become a common practice. Does this affect ear? Big answer is - scientifically not proven but extensive use of mobile causes damage to the ear. Head phones, bluetooth, all contribute largely in damaging ear.
Dr Shabbir Indorewala of Indorewala Hospitals, Nasik says, there is no confirmation to this conclusion but when one uses mobile for longer duration, he or she uses microwaves for long which affects ear.
Dr Indorewala was in city to be the chief guest of installation ceremony of Association of Otology held on Sunday at Hotel Centre Point. Dr Indorewala is called Lion of otology.
One can not stop using mobile because of so many factors then what can be the solution. Dr Indorewala has an answer. He said, “We can talk on mobile with speaker mode is on. We can use landline phone if it is urgent and landline phone is available. Extensive use of mobile should be avoided.”

Noise damages ear of one patient a week

“Ear is to be handled carefully which otherwise ignored. We listen to DJ music, irritating noise in various religious functions and on streets also. Sound, music is good but noise makes your life miserable. I get at least one patient a week who get developed problem in ear because of listening to DJ music or honking or bursting of fire crackers etc. These things should be banned,” said Dr Shabbir Indorewala.
Dr Madan Kapre, noted ENT Surgeon and newly installed President of Association of Otology, Nagpur branch pointed out, “It is written on the packet of fire crackers that it should be burst from the distance of 10 metre to 40 meter. But neither public follows nor law enforcement machinery takes action.”

Symptoms ignored

The symptoms like discharge from the ear, vertigo with headache, diplopia (double vision), squint should not be neglected. These symptoms indicate that complications have developed to large extent and might have entered the neighbouring organ. To bring such people back on track needs lakhs of rupees and there is no certainty of results, warns Dr Shabbir Indorewala. Discharge in ear also can be corrected and the success rate is 98%. It is myth that surgery causes paralysis, it affects face etc.

Deafness causes isolation

Dr Madan Kapre said, “Blind gets sympathy but people mock at the person with deafness. Once Helen Keller has said that she would prefer to remain blind than getting deafness, because deafness gives isolation.

Universal Hearing Screening Programme should be made mandatory

According to Dr Nandu Kolwadkar, Secretary of ENT Association, Universal Hearing Screening Programme should be made compulsory for every newborn child. This programme is being run in western countries. Explaining the mechanism Dr Kolwadkar said, “An instrument called Otoacoustic Emission Testing (OAE) can detect the hearing ability of newborn child. The instrument after the test either show ‘OK’ or ‘Refer’. If it says refer then higher test also can be conducted. There is a higher test called Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA). BERA tells whether the nerves are conducting sound to the brain or not. It also tells degree of deafness. Even doctors are unaware about this test. This screening should be made compulsory for the newborn child. Remember not all the deaf are mutes. They are mute because they are deaf.”

Cochlear Implant needs funding

Earlier only outer problems of deafness could be corrected through surgeries but with the advent in technology now inner problem too can be corrected through Cochlear Implant. In Nagpur presently it is being done by Dr Madan Kapre. Dr Kapre has started it 10 years ago.
Dr Shabbir Indorewala said, “The detection of deafness in newborn is critical problem because of lack of awareness among people and doctors. The only solution is Cochlear Implant but it should not be too much late. Because it has neurological implications also. Deafness may affect child’s brain. Secondly it can be done in adult also if he or she is in good health. Funds is the major problem in Cochlear Implant. It require lot of money and so people ignore. People should come forward and donate for this cause. Vision connects to objects but sound goes global.”