Are Gamers More Prone to Hearing Loss?

Video games may help you relax and have fun now, but like many noisy activities, they can contribute to hearing loss later. According to a recent survey of people who game regularly, more than one in three said they had difficulty hearing. 

Details About the Survey 

The survey—conducted by the American Speech-Language-Health Association (ASHA), World Health Organization (WHO) and WHO Collaborating Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland—asked approximately 1,700 gamers aged 18–35 in Brazil, Japan and the U.S. about their gaming habits.  

Participants reported playing video games an average of 15 hours weekly, and 52% said they engaged in gaming practices that can lead to hearing loss, such as using headphones over long periods of time or at high volumes.  

Among gamers who reported hearing trouble, hearing in noisy places and experiencing tinnitus (ringing in the ears) were their most common complaints. 

The Rise of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss 

Hearing loss caused by recreational activities like gaming is contributing to rising rates of noise-induced hearing loss in the young—over one billion young adults are at risk of hearing loss “due to unsafe listening practices,” according to the WHO.   

The WHO has taken action to combat the problem. It created the ‘Make Listening Safe’ campaign to raise young people’s awareness about the risk of noise-induced hearing loss and aims to develop safe listening standards that people are likely to adopt. According to ASHA, WHO could soon issue a new listening safety standard for video gameplay, potentially by the end of the year.  

Keeping Your Ears Safe 

If you game or know someone who does, here’s how to protect your hearing:

• Turn down or off any unnecessary game noises. 
• Lower the volume. 
• Take listening breaks. 
• Use noise-cancelling headphones, which will prevent you from cranking the volume up to cover background noise. 
• If not using headphones, sit further away from the source of noise. 

Concerned about gaming-related hearing loss? Contact our expert audiology team today!