The Risk of Hearing Loss Due to Excessive Video Gaming
Medical professionals and scientists in Australia, China, Switzerland, and the United States have issued warnings about the potential dangers of excessive video gaming on ear and hearing health.
According to these studies, there is a correlation between prolonged periods of engaging in video games and the risk of experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus. Researchers noted that gamers typically tend to elevate the volume levels of the game during several hours of play, potentially leading to permanent hearing loss or continuous ear ringing (tinnitus).
This comprehensive study, which involved the participation of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Peking University Medical Center, the Australian Institute of Ear Sciences, and the World Health Organization, included over 50,000 video game players out of approximately 3 billion global users.
While the research team acknowledged the existence of data limitations, they emphasized that the available data “suggests that gaming activities could be a common cause of unsafe hearing, posing a risk of hearing loss or tinnitus to many individuals worldwide.”
The study, published in the “BMJ Public Health” journal this month, warned that headset users are particularly vulnerable, as they are exposed to “unsafe sound levels,” which can put video game enthusiasts at risk of hearing loss.
While the research raised concerns about video games potentially leading to addiction and disrupting sleep patterns and social withdrawal, other evaluations suggested that gaming can improve hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and memory reinforcement.
