Video gamers worldwide may be risking irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus—persistent ringing/buzzing in the ears—finds a systematic review of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Public Health.
What evidence there is suggests that the sound levels reported in studies of more than 50,000 people often near, or exceed, permissible safe limits, conclude the researchers.
And given the popularity of these games, greater public health efforts are needed to raise awareness of the potential risks, they urge.
While headphones, earbuds, and music venues have been recognized as sources of potentially unsafe sound levels, relatively little attention has been paid to the effects of video games, including e-sports, on hearing loss, say the researchers.
Turn your volume down, bros.
I SAID TURN THE VOLUME DOWN.
I would if you would stop making that non-stop ringing sound.
(I didn’t realize I had tinnitus until I learned that not everyone hears a high pitch whine 24/7. My brain will tune it out naturally unless it’s really quiet or someone mentions it. Like, now.)
I’ve had a minor tinnitus since I was a kid, which I tend to be able to ignore most of the time because I’m preoccupied with other stuff, but the talks about tinnitus in the Escape From Tarkov community reminded me of the phenomenon, and I’ve been aware of my own tinnitus ever since.
Same as you now - won’t hear it unless I remember about it and can’t turn my mind to something else.
I’m jealous! Mine only is tuned out if I listen to something loud, and I don’t enjoy the headaches more than the tinnitus.
How did you get tinnitus, if you want to share?
I think I have always had it to some degree? I began to realize something was off when I was in the Navy and they discovered I was missing some of my high range hearing in weird spots. My work on a flight deck didn’t help either, I am sure. If you haven’t stood close to a turbofan engines at full power, it’s an interesting experience. And loud.
I have always liked extremely loud music and hard hitting bass. That likely contributed as well.