You’re certainly not alone if you’ve been experiencing ear pain after phone calls.
Researchers have conducted extensive studies to try and understand the source of this pain, and in this article, we’ll take a deep dive into why it may occur.
The pain can result from a combination of factors ranging from limited blood circulation to the ear, radio and electromagnetic waves, and loud volume during the calls.
Let’s take a closer look at the problem and the potential solutions!
Why Is My Ear in Pain After Talking on the Phone?
Recent studies have confirmed that phone calls and headphone usage can cause ear pain in some people.
There have also been theories that phones emit radio, electromagnetic, and thermal waves when a call takes place. These waves elicit responses from the nerves located in the ears, face, and scalp, resulting in ear pain.
Cell phones and cell towers use radio frequencies to transmit and receive signals over a wireless network.
Radio frequencies are considered low forms of energy and are not associated with any scientific evidence of being able to cause severe health risks such as cancer.
However, body tissue can heat up when they interact with radiofrequency energy, and you’ll experience greater exposure depending on the distance between the antenna and the ear.
The ear, therefore, absorbs more energy from the radio frequency waves than any other organ. Notably, the skin and nearby tissues absorb most of the low-energy radio frequency transmission that phones emit.
This energy can cause a notable temperature rise in the organs touching the phone, such as the ear, which may subsequently cause pain.
According to experts, the pain you experience after talking on the phone may also be an early symptom of sensory neural/noise-induced hearing loss. Some people are more sensitive to this exposure than others, and it affects them more deeply.
Research has also shown that people who frequently use the phone for more than 60 minutes daily are more likely to experience ear damage.
The high frequencies and waves that your ears encounter when making phone calls can cause discomfort that manifests as fullness in the ears, a warm sensation, or ringing.
As such, if you constantly feel that pain after making a call, it might be time to look for a solution before any more damage is incurred!
How Can I Stop My Ears From Hurting After Using the Phone?
Phones can cause ear pain due to their radio frequency transmitters. You can reduce this ear pain by increasing the distance between your body and the smartphone by approximately 30-40 centimeters.
Holding your phone against your ear when on a call is the most significant cause of your discomfort in a physical sense.
It may be worth trying other communication alternatives such as text messages, taking calls on speaker, using the internet, or using a “hands-free” device.
The amount of time you spend making calls will also contribute to your discomfort. Therefore, it’s best to limit the number and length of phone calls.
In addition – though this is more in theory – making phone calls in places with a good reception reduces your exposure to these harmful waves because the phone transmits radio frequencies at reduced levels.
To know whether you’re in good reception, consider the distance and path to the closest cell tower. When receiving a good signal from the cell tower, the phone adjusts its power to transmit lesser waves – reducing your exposure.
In addition to the cell tower location, you should also try to be aware of the amount of cell phone traffic in the area. High traffic means that phones require more energy to search for a good signal, exposing you to a greater extent.
Additionally, the phone model you’re using can contribute significantly as they are designed to emit different levels of energy. Some ear pain may result from loud phone speakers; therefore, you should check that too.
It’s crucial to note that mobile phones are restricted in hospitals and airplanes due to their radiofrequency signals. These signals tend to interfere with the devices that run on these frequencies as well.
Can Mobile Phones Cause Ear Problems?
Long-term usage of mobile phones has been associated with various forms of aural damage.
For instance, according to a study carried out in Australia, using the phone for more than ten minutes daily can result in tinnitus, which is a constant ringing and buzzing in the ear.
According to Dr. Hans Peter Hutter, the inner ear also suffers considerable damage from making phone calls.
Components used to translate sounds into electrical pulses communicated to the brain are found in the region where the power released from mobile phones is received. The ears can be damaged if these radio frequency waves constantly bombard them!
Another study by audiologist Allison Catlett shows that people who use the phone for more than 60 minutes are likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss, where they are no longer able to perceive sounds ranging from 2000 to 8000 hertz.
These people have a hard time hearing high-frequency consonants such as t, z, and s. This can subsequently lead to difficulty understanding speech and discerning consonants.
Additionally, it is also possible that long-term usage of a mobile phone against the ear can reduce blood flow – therefore steadily causing harm to the organ.
Symptoms such as ear warmth, ringing, buzzing, pressure, or discomfort are early signs of ear damage and should be taken very seriously!
Therefore, if you have been experiencing ear pain when making phone calls, you should definitely go for a check-up to curb any problem before it gets worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you deal with ear pain?
There are many solutions you can carry out in the comfort of your home to reduce ear pain.
For example, try to put a cold or warm washcloth on the ear; this can be a heating pad or damp washcloth. An ice pack is also very effective, and you can alternate between warm and cold compresses for maximum effectiveness.
In addition, a few drops of warm olive oil into your ear canal might help as well (though as yet, there is no scientific explanation for why olive oil is effective in treating earache).
Alternatively, you can try taking ginger and garlic, which have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Over-the-counter medication is another way to go if you don’t want all the hassle of preparing homemade treatment.
2. How do I check my phone’s radiation levels?
US law and the FCC considers phones with a radiation level of less than 1.6W/KG generally safe for use.
The level of emission is measured in specific absorption rates (SAR). To find out the SAR value of your phone, you can check the label found on the backside of the phone.
You can also check the manufacturer’s website for the value as the law has mandated all manufacturers are required to provide this information to consumers.
Alternatively, if you are using an Android phone, you can dial *#07#, and it will respond with your phone’s SAR measurement.
The lower the value of the SAR, the better! Modern phones have a very low SAR value ranging from 0.5-0.6. Notably, mobile phone giants such as Apple and Samsung produce phones with minimal SAR values.
If it is impossible to get a better phone, you’ll have to consider strategies such as keeping your distance from your phone when making calls in the meantime.
In Summary
So, Why are you getting ear pain after phone calls?
One of the reasons you could be experiencing earache when making phone calls is the radio frequency waves emanating from your phone and hitting the inner parts of your ear.
Radiofrequency waves can cause discomfort and even pain as they travel through the cells. The number of radio frequencies that reach you determines the level of your discomfort.
To reduce radio frequencies that are absorbed, definitely consider getting a phone that produces fewer emissions. It can also help greatly to make phone calls using the hands-free mode or a speaker.
Constant pressure from the phone on the earlobe can also cause ear pain due to the interruption of blood supply in that area.
Feeling constant earaches after making phone calls is a serious problem, and you should work to rectify whatever is causing the problem. Long-term damage to the ear by the phone can lead to eventual hearing loss – an outcome to be avoided at all cost!