Video Games and Hearing Health

Hearing is one of our most valuable senses, yet it is increasingly at risk. By 2030, over 500 million people are expected to have disabling hearing loss requiring rehabilitation, and over one billion young people face the danger of permanent hearing damage due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds from activities like music streaming and video gaming. However, most cases of hearing loss are preventable through safe listening habits and proper ear care. Our choices today will determine how well we hear in the future. Whether through reducing exposure to loud noise, regular hearing check-ups, or timely use of hearing devices, prioritizing hearing health is essential for a better quality of life.

This year’s World Hearing Day theme, “Changing Mindsets: Empower Yourself to Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for All,” underscores the need for awareness and action. The campaign encourages schoolchildren, adolescents, video game enthusiasts, parents, teachers, and older adults to take proactive steps to protect their hearing. It’s not just about individual choices—empowered individuals can drive societal change by advocating for safer listening environments, supporting those with hearing loss, and pushing for better hearing protection in industries like gaming. With gaming now a dominant form of entertainment, it’s time to integrate safe listening practices into the gaming culture—without compromising the immersive experience that players love.

The Risk of Hearing Damage in Gaming

As video gaming grows into a global entertainment powerhouse, concerns about its impact on hearing health are gaining attention. With over 3 billion gamers worldwide playing on devices such as personal computers, video game consoles, and mobile phones, many risk noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus from prolonged exposure to loud in-game sounds.

Studies show that video game audio levels sometimes approach or exceed safe listening limits. A 2024 review published in the open access journal BMJ Public Health found that some gaming environments expose players to bursts of sound as loud as 119 decibels (dB)—equivalent to a chainsaw or rock concert. For context, safe exposure for children is around 100 dB and for adults 130–140 dB.

Unlike music venues or personal audio devices, video game sound exposure has received little public health attention. Many gamers play at high volumes for extended periods, unaware that this could lead to permanent hearing damage.

WHO-ITU Safe Listening Guidelines

To address this, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have introduced the first global standard for safe listening in video gameplay and esports. Launched ahead of World Hearing Day 2025, these guidelines aim to protect video game players from excessive sound exposure by recommending safe listening features for gaming hardware and software.

For Gaming Devices:

• Sound allowance tracking to monitor exposure over time.
• Safe listening alerts warning players of high sound levels.
• User-friendly volume controls for easy adjustments.
• Headphone safety mode to regulate volume when switching between speakers and headphones.

For Video Game Software:

• Safe listening warnings alerting players about loud sounds.
• Independent volume controls for different audio elements.
• Adaptive soundtracks designed to balance immersion with hearing safety.
• Headphone safety mode within the software to adjust volume automatically.

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

“As video gaming and esports continue to grow and gamers use a wider array of devices to access their content, safe listening standards are vital to help protect the hearing of users, especially children, from sounds which could damage their hearing,”
– Seizo Onoe, Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (ITU).

Why These Standards Matter

Hearing loss is permanent and preventable. WHO estimates that half of all young people (12–35 years old) are at risk of NIHL due to unsafe listening, including video gaming. Children and teenagers are especially vulnerable because their ears are more sensitive to noise.

Concerns over loud audio exposure are not unique to gaming—they mirror past debates on personal audio devices. In the 1980s and 1990s, cassette players raised alarms about hearing damage. The 2000s saw similar warnings with the rise of digital music players, smartphones, and streaming services, as prolonged, high-volume listening became a widespread habit. Just as action was taken then, gaming now faces a critical moment where proactive steps can prevent long-term hearing loss.

The new guidelines build on previous WHO safe listening initiatives, including standards for personal audio devices (2019) and public venues (2022). However, gaming devices have lacked similar protections—until now.

Gaming Industry’s Role in Hearing Safety

With these past lessons in mind, the gaming industry has an opportunity to be proactive in protecting players’ hearing. Developers and manufacturers can take early action to integrate safe listening measures without diminishing gaming’s immersive sound experience.

Adoption of these guidelines by game developers, console manufacturers, and policymakers is essential. While some companies have introduced volume restrictions, alerts, and automatic volume reduction features, a global standard is needed to ensure consistent protection for all players.

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

What Video Game Players Can Do to Protect Their Hearing

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

• Lower in-game volume and adjust sound settings independently to balance audio exposure.
• Take breaks every hour to reduce continuous exposure.
• Use noise-canceling headphones to allow lower volume settings.
• Set volume limits on gaming devices.
• Recognize warning signs, such as ringing ears or muffled hearing, and act early.

A Call to Action for Safe Gaming

The WHO-ITU standard marks a major step in recognizing and addressing hearing risks in gaming. As the industry continues to grow, safe listening must become a priority.

On World Hearing Day 2025, WHO urges video game players, developers, and policymakers to work together in promoting responsible listening habits. Will you take the first step toward safer gaming? Lower your volume, take breaks, and help spread the message.

By adopting these standards, we can ensure that video games remain an exciting, immersive, and safe experience—without sacrificing hearing health.

For more information on safe listening in gaming, visit WHO’s campaign page.

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