A survey of video gamers aged 18–35-years old found that more than three-quarters regularly engage in activities that can be detrimental to hearing, including 52% who use headphones for long periods or at loud volumes.
Up to a third were aware of are already experiencing hearing loss. However, when informed of their risk for hearing loss, most were receptive to proposed safer listening features for video games and expressed a willingness to change their listening habits.
The survey was released by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the World Health Organization (WHO)/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the WHO Collaborating Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems at the University of Lucerne.
(Other activities that put them at risk for hearing loss from excessive noise exposure include spending time around loud music, attending concerts, and working in noisy environments.)
You can download the PDF of “Video Gamer Safe Listening Poll.”
Hearing care professionals are in a prime position to inform the public about the dangers of loud video game play and why gamers should act now before they develop hearing loss.
Some steps they can take include:
- Reducing the volume by 50% or less using noise-canceling headphones that reduce surrounding noises that can compete with sound from the games
- Taking frequent breaks every hour or so, giving the ears a break
- Paying attention to hearing levels and seeing a hearing care professional if reduced hearing ability is noted
- Monitor and track hearing via online hearing screening tools (such as hearWHO or Mimi)
- Stay tuned for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) release of a new global safe listening standard on video gaming
Source: Hearing Tracker.com newsletter
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