Wireless radiation and hearing problems
Wireless radiation and hearing problems
Did you know that some people can hear wireless radiation?
We know that some of our readers do, and you might be one of them.
Recently Dr James Lin published a paper describing the fascinating phenomenon of ‘microwave hearing’, whereby people perceive wireless radiation as a clicking, buzzing, zipping, chirping or knocking sound, or even as a tune. It can occur when subjects are exposed to a wide range of frequencies – from hundreds of megahertz to several gigahertz. Further, it occurs, not just in humans, but in some species of animals (such as rats) as well.
Microwave hearing is not the hearing of sound (which is a different range of frequencies from wireless radiation). It does not occur in the way that conventional hearing does.
Lin describes it this way. ‘The microwave auditory effect occurs from miniscule but rapid rise … of temperature … in the brain from absorption of pulsed microwave radiation. The sudden rise in temperature creates thermoelastic expansion of the brain matter, which can launch a pressure wave that propagates through the head and is detected by the sensory hair cells in the cochlea. The nerve signal is then relayed to the central auditory system for perception and recognition.’
According to Lin, the sound depends on the characteristics of the wireless radiation, for example, the width of the pulses.
Microwave hearing was first recognised in World War II and was usually linked to radar signals. It was found that servicemen could hear sounds from radar whether they were inches or thousands of feet away from the transmitter. It was also discovered that shielding a hearer from the radiation stopped them from perceiving the sound.
Lin says, ‘Since late 2016, there have been multiple reports that some diplomatic service personnel have been experiencing health issues associated with hearing loud buzzing or bursts of sound. It was hypothesized that the loud buzzing, burst of sound, or acoustic pressure waves may have been delivered using a targeted beam of high-power pulsed microwave radiation, rather than blasting the subjects with conventional sonic sources. Recently, the National Academies released a report, examining the causes of the illnesses, makes the point that “among the mechanisms the study committee considered, the most plausible mechanism to explain these cases, especially in individuals with distinct early symptoms, appears to be directed, pulsed RF (microwave) energy.”.
He points out that the US government plans to undertake research into developing a wearable device for detecting exposure to RF weapons.
Can microwave hearing be a problem for those who experience it?
According to Lin it can. Because the radiation is converted to sound inside the brain, it is possible that injury to the brain could occur, he says.
J. C. Lin, "The Microwave Auditory Effect," in IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 16-28, March 2022, doi: 10.1109/JERM.2021.3062826;
What can be done about it?
Some of our readers have told us that their tinnitus improved when they stopped using their mobile phone.
One of our readers reported that she stopped hearing her neighbour’s WiFi when she installed a curtain made from our shielding fabric on her window.
So reducing exposure and shielding wireless sources is a useful strategy.
What can you do?
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See our blog on the ‘Havana Syndrome’.
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Reduce your use of radiating devices as much as possible. Use radiation-free equipment instead.
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Learn how to make your home radiation free with our online course, Your electromagnetic-safe Home.
What else can you do?