Overview

• Video gamers worldwide may be risking irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus due to high sound levels, according to a systematic review of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Public Health.
• The research, a first-of-its-kind review of 14 studies totaling nearly 54,000 adults and children worldwide, found that when participants played video games, average sound levels often nearly exceeded or exceeded permissible sound exposure limits.
• Sound levels from gaming often reach up to 80-89 decibels in gaming centers and impulse sounds during gameplay can hit as high as 119 decibels, exceeding safe exposure limits.
• Those who game regularly, as compared to those who do not, are more likely to experience tinnitus, measured high-frequency hearing loss, and self-perceived difficulties hearing.
• The researchers suggest that there may be a need to prioritize interventions, such as initiatives focused on education and awareness of the potential risks of gaming, that can help promote safe listening among gamers.