Listen video games and health

Hearing is one of our most valuable sense, but is increasingly at risk. From 2030, over 500 million people It is expected to hinder hearing loss that require rehabilitation and about A billion young people Explain the risk of permanent hearing damage, since longer noises of activities such as music streaming and video games are extended. However, most cases of hearing loss can be avoided by safe hearing habits and the correct ear care. Our decisions today will determine how well we hear in the future. Whether reducing exposure to loud noise, regular hearing investigations or the timely use of hearing aids, the prioritization of hearing health is of essential importance for a better quality of life.

This year's topic of the World Corporation Day, “Change of change of ways of thinking: Effect, the ear and hearing of care for all realities for all” underlines the need for awareness and action. The campaign encourages school children, young people, video game enthusiasts, parents, teachers and older adults to take proactive steps to protect their hearing. It is not just about individual decisions – recruited people can advance social change by working for safer hearing environments, supporting people with hearing loss and pushing better hearing protection in industries such as gaming. In view of the dominant entertainment, it is time to integrate safe hearing practices into gaming culture – without the immersive experience that players love.

The risk of hearing damage when playing

When video games are developed into a global entertainment power plant, the concerns about the effects on the health of hearing gain. With over 3 billion players worldwide Playing on devices such as PCs, video game consoles and mobile phones, many risky hearing loss (Nihl) and tinnitus through longer exposure to loud in-game sounds.

Studies show that the audio level of the video game sometimes approaches or crosses safe listening limits. A review published in the Open Access Journal 2024 BMJ public health It found that some gaming environments expose players as loud as 119 decibels (DB) – equivalent to a chainsaw or a rock concert. For the context, the safe exposure of children is around 100 dB and for adults 130–140 dB.

In contrast to music event locations or personal audio equipment, the video game Sound Exposure has received little attention from public health. Many players play in high volumes for longer periods without knowing that this could lead to permanent hearing damage.

Who-sit Safe hearing guidelines

To address this, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) introduced the first global standard for safe listening in video gameplays and eSports. Launched World Center 2025These guidelines aim to protect video players from excessive sound pollution by recommending safe hearing functions for gaming hardware and software.

For gaming devices:

• Sound authorization Tracking to monitor the exposure over time.
• Safe hearing warnings warnings of players of high levels of sound.
• User -friendly volume controls for simple adjustments.
• Headphone safety mode for regulating the volume when switching between speakers and headphones.

For video game software:

• Safe hearing warnings that make the players aware of loud noises.
• Independent volume controls for different audio elements.
• Adaptive soundtracks that are supposed to reconcile the immersion with hearing safety.
• Headphone safety mode within the software to automatically adjust the volume.

The new standard aims to inform video players about the risk of hearing loss from loud video gameplay activities and to raise awareness of how to listen to safe listening.

“Since video games and eSports continue to grow and players use a wider series of devices to access their content, safe listening standards are of crucial importance to protect the hearing of users, especially children, from noise that could damage their hearing.”
– Seizo Onoe, director, telecommunications standardization office (ITU).

Why these standards are important

Hearing loss is permanent and avoidable. Anyone who estimates that half of all young people (12 to 35 years) is at risk due to the uncertain listening, including video games. Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible because their ears are more sensitive to noise.

Concerns regarding the loud audio exposure are not unique for games – they reflect previous debates about personal audio devices. In the 1980s and 1990s, cassette players triggered alarms through hearing damage. In the 2000s, similar warnings with the rise of digital music players, smartphones and streaming services were recorded, since longer listening became a widespread habit with a high volume. Just as measures were taken at the time, playing is now faced with a critical moment in which proactive steps can prevent hearing loss in the long term.

The new guidelines are based on former WHO -Safe -hör -Hör initiatives, including standards for personal audio devices (2019) and public venues (2022). However, gaming devices had similar protection – so far.

Role of the game industry in the safety of listening

In view of these earlier lessons, the Gaming industry has the opportunity to proactively protect the players. Developers and manufacturers can take measures at an early stage to integrate secure hearing measures without reducing the Immersive sound experience of gaming.

The introduction of these guidelines by game developers, console manufacturers and political decision -makers is essential. While some companies introduced volume restrictions, notifications and automatic features of the volume, a global standard is required to ensure consistent protection for all players.

By integrating safe hearing functions into devices and games, the video game industry can proactively reduce the risk of hearing loss among players worldwide.

What video players can do to protect their hearing

While industry -wide changes can help, players can also take steps to protect their hearing today:

• Lower volume in the game and adapt the sound settings independently to compensate for audio exposure.
• Take breaks every hour to reduce continuous exposure.
• Use the headphones for rushing to enable settings with a lower volume.
• Set volume limits for play equipment.
• Recognize warning signs such as ringing or muffled hearing and acting early.

A call to act for safe games

The WHO-LUST standard marks an important step to recognize and remedy hearing risks in play. If the industry continues to grow, safe listening must have a priority.

To World Center 2025The video player, developer and political decision -makers urge to work together to promote responsible hearing habits. Do you take the first step towards safer playing? Lower your volume, take breaks and help to spread the message.

By taking over these standards, we can ensure that video games remain an exciting, urgent and safe experience – without sacrificing the health of hearing.

More information about Safe listening in playingVisit the WHO campaign side.

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