A new review reveals that the loud noises experienced by the world’s more than 3 billion video game players may endanger their hearing.
Whether on the couch, at a computer desk, or in an arcade, studies have revealed that noise from video games frequently exceeds levels considered safe for a person’s hearing, according to a paper published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Public Health.
The review’s data “suggest that some gamers, particularly those who play frequently, and at or above the average sound levels described by papers included in this review, probably exceed permissible sound exposure limits,” wrote the researchers, led by Lauren Dillard, a postdoctoral fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Thus, the researchers concluded in a journal news release that certain gamers are “engaging in unsafe listening practices, which could put them at risk for developing permanent hearing loss and/or tinnitus [ringing in the ears]”.
For the assessment, scientists assessed 14 studies with a combined total of almost 54,000 participants from nine different nations.
The kind of gaming that was being studied varied according to the area where the study was conducted. Research elsewhere concentrated on home computers and video games, but studies conducted in Asia concentrated on arcades and personal computer rooms.
According to one study, over ten million people in the United States may be regularly exposed to “loud” or “very loud” sound levels from video games or computers.
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Another study discovered that the sound levels of five video games played using headphones connected to a gaming console frequently approached the maximum allowable levels of sound exposure.
Researchers observed that decibel levels averaged 88.5, 87.6, 85.6, and 91.2 dB for four different shooting games, as well as 85.6 dB for a racing game.
What Do Researchers Say About This?
According to the researchers, these measurements are near to the acceptable noise exposure limit for youngsters of 75 decibels for 40 hours per week and the adult standard of 80 dB for 40 hours per week.
Decibel level and exposure duration are used to quantify noise intensity; the louder the sound, the shorter the duration an individual should be exposed to it.
As a result, children can comfortably listen to sounds at 83 dB for around 6.5 hours per week, 86 dB for about 3.25 hours, 92 dB for 45 minutes, and 98 dB for about 12 minutes per week.
Similarly, 83 dB for 20 hours a week, 86 dB for 10 hours, 92 dB for 2.5 hours, and 98 dB for 38 minutes would be considered safe adult exposure limits.
The noise levels for video games are also quite near to the guidelines for brief noise exposure, which are between 100 and 140 dB for adults and 130 to 140 dB for youngsters.
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How Much Volume Is Safe While Gaming?
According to studies, the typical arcade noise level is between 80 and 89 decibels, but it can reach as high as 119 decibels when playing games.
The evaluation examined five research that examined possible connections between self-reported tinnitus or hearing loss and gaming.
Of those five, two studies discovered a connection between students’ arcade gaming and a higher risk of both bilateral high-frequency hearing loss and severe tinnitus.
Another study found a correlation between playing video games and a higher likelihood of self-reported severe hearing loss.
The researchers did point out that there haven’t been many studies done on this topic. For example, just two studies that were published in the last ten years examined average sound levels from arcade games or video games objectively.
In order to properly evaluate the risk that video games pose to hearing, the panel recommended more research.
“The findings 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,” the researchers suggested.
