Video Gamers May Be Risking Permanent Hearing Loss Or Tinnitus: Study (image: Pixabay)

According to the new research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Public Health, video gamers all over the world might be at the risk of permanent hearing loss or persistent ringing in their ears or tinnitus.

“Gamers who are listening at high-intensity sound levels and for long periods of time may be at risk of permanent sound-induced hearing loss and/or tinnitus”, the study reported.

For the study, researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Medical University of South Carolina, US, reviewed 14 studies including more than 53,000 people from 9 countries in North America, Europe, South East Asia, Asia and Australia.

Researchers have found that many video gamers often play at high-intensity sound levels and for several hours at a stretch which is beyond the permissible safe limits. People also have the tendency to watch game for longer hours, while impulse noises, such as shooting sounds can be very high, the researchers said.

“Findings suggest that there may be a need to prioritise interventions, such as initiatives focused on education and awareness of the potential risks of gaming, that can help promote safe listening among gamers,” the study added.

The researcher further indicates that “permissible” time a person can be exposed to 83db sound is 20 hours a week, while for 86dB it is 10 hours, for 92dB it is 2.5 hours and for 98dB it is 38 minutes. Furthermore, in the case of children, permissible noise exposure levels are even lower, at 75 dB for 40 hours a week.

Reports indicate that there were over 3 billion gamers across the world in 2022.

(With inputs from Guardian)