For those who enjoy gaming, dedicating five hours a day to the latest game might seem perfectly normal.
However, a gamer from the UK has shared a cautionary tale about the “permanent damage” that excessive gaming can cause. After years of playing with headphones on, he fell unconscious and was hospitalized.
Avik Banerjee, a university lecturer, spent five to six hours daily gaming for 15 years, playing titles like Call of Duty and Fortnite. His dedication led him to win $44,000 by securing first place in a global COD tournament, but this passion came with serious consequences.
Avik would often set his headphones to maximum volume, likely to enhance his gaming experience.
He was aware the volume was unnecessary, but he claimed there were no warnings when he began gaming this way.
It wasn’t until much later that Avik noticed the repercussions of his habits. He began experiencing dizzy spells and ultimately collapsed at home after work.
Fortunately, neighbors noticed Avik’s condition and called for medical assistance. At the hospital, he discovered that his ears had suffered damage, impacting his inner ear balance.
His years of loud headphone use had led to a complete loss of “long-distance hearing”.
“If there’s a loud sound, or music in the distance, I can’t hear it,” he explained.
“Doctors have warned me I might need hearing aids if things get worse. I have to visit the hospital every two months for balance check-ups. People must be aware of the permanent damage video games can cause.”
Avik’s warning comes as a Specsavers survey reveals that 51 percent of headset users set the volume too high, resulting in potential issues such as ringing or buzzing sounds, increased sensitivity to normal sounds, and ear soreness.
Kate Johnson, AuD, CCC-A, an audiologist at University of Utah Health, noted that hearing damage results from “a combination of volume and duration.”
“The louder the sound, the shorter the time you can be exposed before damage occurs,” she elaborated.
Known medically as noise-induced hearing loss, this issue is the second most prevalent form of sensorineural hearing loss.
According to Medical News Today, individuals using headphones in noisy settings are at a 4.5 times greater risk of hearing loss.
To prevent issues from high-volume headphone use, audiologists at the University of Utah Health recommend maintaining audio levels at or below 60 percent of the maximum volume.