KARACHI: Expressing concern over the excessive use of cell phones, earbuds, hands-free and Bluetooth devices, especially among the youth, a health expert has warned that the misuse of these gadgets is causing hearing loss and that damages are often irreversible.

“These devices emit radiation that impairs hearing. The ear, especially the inner ear, is the direct recipient of the electromagnetic radiation, thus making it the most likely affected organ. The delicate hair cells in the inner ear organ do not have regenerative properties, thus damages are often permanent with little chance of recovery in advanced stages,” Prof Zeba Ahmed told a seminr.

The seminar held in connection with World Hearing Day was jointly organised by the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).

According to Prof Ahmed, hair cells are known to be sensitive to chronic exposure to loud noise. “Therefore, the ear is at risk of exposure to noise from the mobile phone as well as the electromagnetic radiation waves emitted by the phone,” explained Prof Ahmed, who heads the Unit-1 of CHK’s ENT department.

She pointed out that other common factors affecting hearing included industrial and vehicular noise pollution, both of which could be controlled and regulated.

“Nearly 60 per cent of hearing loss is due to avoidable causes that can be prevented through the implementation of public health measures. These steps include immunisation, good maternal and childcare practices, genetic counselling, identification and management of common ear infections and conditions, occupational hearing conservation programmes for noise and chemical exposure,” she said.

During the seminar, ENT residents discussed various ear-related diseases, their diagnoses, and statistical data for surgically treated ear infections over the last year i.e. from January 2024 to March 1, 2025. A hundred patients with discharging ears underwent surgical intervention at CHK in one year.

According to speakers, unaddressed hearing loss has a wide-ranging impact on individuals, resulting in social isolation, loneliness and stigma, as well as societal and economic consequences such as limited access to education and employment.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2025