Today's Article

"Over half of them are playing at levels that are too loud. And our hearing is something that we 2take for granted until we lose it."

Audiologist Lindsay Creed says gamers now often use earbuds, headphones, or headsets, which can put loud noises close to the ear. And over time, that can cause 3significant 4damage.

"There's often not much we can do to get it back at that point."

But Creed says 5noise-induced hearing loss is 6preventable.

First, turn down the volume, keeping it to about 50% or less can reduce risk of damage. Next, take listening breaks every hour: even a few minutes can help your ears recover. Finally, use headphones that offer protection, like ones that are noise-canceling.

"This will help reduce the noise in the user's environment and really allow them to 7resist the 8urge to 9crank up the volume of the game to 10compensate for what's going on around them."

Creed says children and young adults are most 11vulnerable to this type of hearing loss and may not be able to 12put into words that a sound is too loud.

So she says it's important that parents stay 13aware and 14promote hearing care.

"They can still play their games and have fun, just in a safer way."