Summary:
Over 1 billion young people are at risk of permanent hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds during recreational activities, prompting global efforts—including Audiology Australia’s new “Min-Max Your Hearing” campaign—to promote safer listening practices, especially among gamers.
Key Takeaways:
- Hearing Risk in Youth – Prolonged exposure to loud sounds from video games and music puts over 1 billion young people at risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
- WHO Guidelines for Safe Listening – The WHO has released a global standard recommending features like on-screen warnings and headphone safety modes in video games to promote safer listening.
- “Min-max Your Hearing” Campaign – Audiology Australia’s campaign urges gamers to adopt three key actions: control volume spikes, reduce noise exposure during breaks, and replace worn-out ear cushions to protect their hearing.
Over 1 billion young people may be at risk of avoidable, permanent hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds during recreational activities such as video gaming and listening to music—a challenge highlighted this World Hearing Day (March 3) [1,2].
That’s why Audiology Australia is supporting global efforts led by the World Health Organization (WHO) by sharing a new resource into how government, regulators, and video game manufacturers can promote safer listening practices, as well as launching a new campaign to raise awareness among gamers.
The resource WHO-ITU Global standard for safe listening in video game play and sports released on World Hearing Day provides recommendations including video games having on-screen safe listening warnings and messages, and a “headphone safety mode” that reduces volume by at least 3 dB when switching from speakers to headphones.
Meanwhile, Audiology Australia’s new campaign “Min-max your hearing” co-opts popular video and tabletop roleplaying terminology to encourage gamers to maximize self-care for their ears and hearing.
Audiology Australia Board Member Dr Emma Laird says that while it is necessary to highlight the consequences of prolonged loud noise exposure, it is important to also raise awareness of hearing care without berating gamers.
“When you are stuck in a video game, whether a mobile game, or on the computer or a video game console, your hearing health might be the last thing on your mind. But we want to remind gamers that looking after your hearing will help you enjoy your favorite sounds for longer,” Dr Laird says.
Audiology Australia’s campaign is centered around encouraging gamers to follow three key actions:
1. Minimize volume spikes: Keep your maximum volume at the minimum you need to hear clearly.
2. Minimize noises during breaks: Maximize your ear recovery by reducing exposure to loud sounds while taking a break.
3. Minimize sound leakage: Replace your worn-out ear cushions to maximize your audio experience.
The suggested actions from the campaign are clearly important, with audiologists from around Australia reporting that children as young as 12 years old are presenting to audiology clinics with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) from playing video games.
References
[1] World Health Organization. “Deafness and hearing loss”. 2 February 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss
[2] World Health Organization. “1.1 billion people at risk of hearing loss”. 10 March 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/vietnam/news/detail/10-03-2015-1.1-billion-people-atrisk-of-hearing-loss
