It has been reported that people who frequently play games at high volume may be at increased risk of hearing loss and tinnitus.
Players who enjoy games are often exposed to loud sounds such as flashy sound effects and background music. A research team led by Professor Lauren Dillard of the Medical University of South Carolina points out that the high volume in games can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.
Risk of sound-induced hearing loss from exposure to video gaming or esports: a systematic scoping review | BMJ Public Health
Video gamers worldwide may be risking irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus | BMJ
Previous research has shown that wearing headphones or earphones for long periods of time, and listening to loud music at live music venues, etc., are sources of potentially dangerous noise levels. On the other hand, although the number of gamers is estimated to be more than 3 billion worldwide as of 2022, no large-scale research has been conducted on the impact of games on hearing loss.
The research team analyzed 14 peer-reviewed research papers involving a total of 53,833 people. The analysis revealed that the average sound level for shooting games was 88.5 to 91.2 decibels, and for racing games it was 85.6 decibels.
World Health Organization (WHO) guidance states that for adults, exposure to noise levels of 80 decibels or more for 40 hours a week increases the risk of hearing loss. Additionally, the WHO warns that people should not listen to noise levels of 90 decibels for more than 4 hours a week and 95 decibels for more than 1 hour and 15 minutes a week.
In addition, it was found that 'impulse sound', which is a short and loud sound lasting less than 1 second, such as the sound of a gunshot, reaches a maximum of 119 decibels. The permissible limit for sound is said to be about 100 decibels for children and about 130 to 140 decibels for adults, indicating that the impulse sound was at a dangerous level.
In addition, men reported playing video games more often and being exposed to louder gaming noises for longer periods of time than women.
Furthermore, studies that evaluated hearing ability by combining self-reported data from subjects with their hearing test results have found a correlation between gaming and hearing loss, and between gaming and tinnitus.
The research team said, ``Although the number of papers analyzed was limited to only 14, it is likely that some gamers, especially those who play games frequently or play at higher than average volumes, can tolerate louder noises. 'Exposure limits have been exceeded, suggesting an increased risk of developing permanent hearing loss and tinnitus.'
On the other hand, future challenges include the need to conduct more detailed research on the effects of the type of games that cause hearing loss, the player's place of residence, gender, age, etc., and to establish a stronger relationship between games and hearing loss. It was mentioned.
The research team added, ``The results of this analysis will not only help promote safe listening among gamers, but also encourage proactive interventions focused on awareness and education of the potential risks of games.'' It shows the need.'
In addition,the Royal Institute for the Deaf (UK) recommends that ``it is desirable to lower the current volume by 50%'', ``you should take regular breaks of at least 5 minutes every hour to give your ears a rest'', ``it is recommended to lower the current volume by 50%'', ``you should take regular breaks to rest your ears for at least 5 minutes every hour'', and ``you should lower the volume by 50% from the current volume'', ``you should take regular breaks to rest your ears for at least 5 minutes every hour'' 'When playing games in a noisy environment, you should use noise-cancelling headphones to keep the noise level within the limits.'
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