Is gaming affecting your hearing health?
Entertainment is ever changing, in particular the world of gaming, one of the most popular pastimes enjoyed by people of all ages. While the immersive experiences offered by video games can be thrilling, we think it’s important to be aware of the potential impact they can have on our hearing health. Prolonged exposure to loud sounds without safe listening practices can have long term effects on our hearing.
We look at how gaming can affect yours or your child’s hearing and offer insights into how you can help protect your hearing health.
One of the primary concerns for your hearing health when gaming is the intensity of the sounds within the games. They often feature high intensity sounds such as explosions, loud vehicle noises and gunfire. Prolonged exposure to sounds exceeding safe volume levels can lead to permanent hearing damage. Gamers often use headsets to enhance their gaming experience, but the immersive sound quality may contribute to increased volume levels.
Prolonged hearing that can have long term consequences such as the risk of tinnitus
Tinnitus is a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, a common side effect of prolonged exposure to loud noises. Gamers who consistently play with high audio volumes, especially through headphones, are at an increased risk of developing tinnitus. This condition not only affects your gaming experience but can impact your everyday life.
How can I game safely?
Importance of taking breaks and monitoring your child’s hearing health
It's crucial for gamers to take regular breaks for both your optical and hearing health. Pausing the game and stepping away from the screen allows both your eyes and ears to rest and recover.
Why not try the 20-20-20 rule! Take a short breaks every 20 minutes and fixate on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds, this helps with eye strain and dry eyes.
Importance of volume control
Adjusting the volume settings on your headset to safer levels can significantly reduce the risk of hearing damage. Many gaming platforms and devices now come equipped with volume limiters and parental controls, enabling users to set safe audio levels.
Investing in quality equipment
Choosing high-quality gaming headsets with built-in on noise cancellation can make a significant difference in protecting yours or your child’s hearing. Noise cancelling headphones produce reversed sound waves which neutralise surrounding noise allowing you to reduce your gaming volume, which will help to protect your hearing health. It is essential to invest in reputable brands that prioritise user safety and provide adjustable volume settings.
Book a free hearing health check
If you have noticed any changes in your hearing, no matter how small they may feel, book a free hearing health check.