science

14751 readers

536 users here now

A community to post scientific articles, news, and civil discussion.

rule #1: be kind

<--- rules currently under construction, see current pinned post.

2024-11-11

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

m3t00@lemmy.world

Joleee@lemmy.world

laverabe@lemmy.world

DeadPand@midwest.social

136

Video gamers worldwide may be risking irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus (medicalxpress.com)

submitted 10 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

100 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Video gamers worldwide may be risking irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus—persistent ringing/buzzing in the ears—finds a systematic review of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Public Health.

What evidence there is suggests that the sound levels reported in studies of more than 50,000 people often near, or exceed, permissible safe limits, conclude the researchers.

And given the popularity of these games, greater public health efforts are needed to raise awareness of the potential risks, they urge.

While headphones, earbuds, and music venues have been recognized as sources of potentially unsafe sound levels, relatively little attention has been paid to the effects of video games, including e-sports, on hearing loss, say the researchers.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 28 points 10 months ago (4 children)

I would if you would stop making that non-stop ringing sound.

(I didn't realize I had tinnitus until I learned that not everyone hears a high pitch whine 24/7. My brain will tune it out naturally unless it's really quiet or someone mentions it. Like, now.)

[–] noobdoomguy8658@feddit.de 6 points 10 months ago

I've had a minor tinnitus since I was a kid, which I tend to be able to ignore most of the time because I'm preoccupied with other stuff, but the talks about tinnitus in the Escape From Tarkov community reminded me of the phenomenon, and I've been aware of my own tinnitus ever since.

Same as you now - won't hear it unless I remember about it and can't turn my mind to something else.

[–] AlexisFR@jlai.lu 4 points 10 months ago (2 children)

If you don't notice it every time it's not tininitus just the normal background noise of the ears functioning.

[–] Pretzilla@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

That's a fun way of thinking about it but nope. It's Tinnitus.

[–] Zangoose@lemmy.one 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Maybe a more mild case but nope, definitely still tinnitus.

I have sensitive hearing towards higher frequency sounds (10khz+) and I've always listened at pretty low volumes (like 10-20% on windows for most headphones, even less on my easier-to-drive earbuds). Unfortunately for me I still ended up getting tinnitus but it's only noticeable when I actively think about it or when I'm trying to sleep.

Seriously though, tinnitus is awful, it makes sleeping so much harder.

[–] AlexisFR@jlai.lu 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I see, thanks for the information!

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 2 points 9 months ago

Well, its a pitch that never really stops and does overlap with some frequencies enough to be annoying.

It's not that I stop hearing it. It's just that I have had this for so long my brain comprehends it as "normal" and it doesn't hold my attention. Part of the psychology(?) is that I grew up around technology. Hearing PC fans or capacitor whine most of the time was normal for me as long as he pitch is steady. The pitch I hear is almost exactly like an old CRT, actually.

[–] Dvixen@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

I'm jealous! Mine only is tuned out if I listen to something loud, and I don't enjoy the headaches more than the tinnitus.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

How did you get tinnitus, if you want to share?

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 3 points 9 months ago

I think I have always had it to some degree? I began to realize something was off when I was in the Navy and they discovered I was missing some of my high range hearing in weird spots. My work on a flight deck didn't help either, I am sure. If you haven't stood close to a turbofan engines at full power, it's an interesting experience. And loud.

I have always liked extremely loud music and hard hitting bass. That likely contributed as well.