Gamers, Tinnitus, and Hearing Loss: What Every Esports Player Should Know
- Dr. Brian James
- 4 minutes ago
- 7 min read
You just finished a six-hour session. Your team clutched the ranked match. The adrenaline is still pumping. But as you take off your headset, you notice it—that faint ringing in your ears. Maybe it's more of a buzz. Or a high-pitched whine that won't go away.
You shake your head. Close your eyes. Wait for it to stop.
But it doesn't.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. And more importantly, your ears are trying to tell you something.
What's Actually Happening in Your Ears
That ringing sound is called tinnitus, and it's your body's warning system.
Here's what's going on:
Inside your ear, there are thousands of tiny hair cells in the cochlea that pick up sound vibrations and send signals to your brain. When you're exposed to loud sounds for extended periods, these delicate hair cells get damaged or fatigued. Your brain, no longer receiving normal signals from these cells, starts generating its own sound to compensate—that's the ringing you hear.
Think of it like this: if you stare at a bright light and then close your eyes, you see an afterimage. Tinnitus is similar, except it's happening with your hearing system.
The Gaming Setup That's Hurting You
Modern gaming headsets are incredible. They deliver crystal-clear audio, immersive soundscapes, and every footstep your opponent makes. But here's the problem: most gaming headphones can easily exceed 100 decibels (dB)—that's as loud as a chainsaw or a rock concert.
Research shows that shooter games average between 85-91 dB, with impulse sounds like explosions and gunfire reaching as high as 119 dB. To put that in perspective, hearing damage can occur at just 85 dB after 8 hours of exposure. At 100 dB, that safe window drops to just 15 minutes.
And if you're cranking the volume to hear enemy footsteps for that competitive edge? You're making it worse.
Why Gamers Are Especially at Risk
Here's what makes gaming particularly dangerous for your hearing:
Extended sessions: Many gamers play for 3-6 hours at a time, often multiple times per week. That's sustained exposure at potentially harmful levels.
Volume creep: You start at a reasonable level, but as your ears adjust and you get more focused, you inch the volume higher without realizing it.
Competitive pressure: Pro players and competitive gamers often max out their volume to catch crucial audio cues—footsteps, reloads, ability sounds. The desire to win overrides concern for hearing health.
Impulse sounds: Those sudden explosions, flashbangs, and gunshots aren't just startling—they're delivering sound spikes that can cause immediate damage.
A recent study involving over 50,000 gamers found that regular players had a 52% higher likelihood of experiencing tinnitus compared to non-gamers, and a 6% higher risk of self-reported hearing loss.
Tinnitus Risk in Gamers vs Non-Gamers
Group | Relative likelihood of tinnitus* | Plain-language takeaway |
Non-gamers | 1.0× (baseline) | Reference group |
Regular gamers | 1.52× (52% higher) | Many regular gamers are already in the risk zone |
Based on WHO/ITU review of studies on gaming noise exposure in children and teens (53,000+ participants).
Is It Temporary or Permanent?
Here's the critical question everyone asks: will the ringing go away?
Sometimes, yes. If you've just had a single long session and the ringing starts, giving your ears complete rest for 24-48 hours can allow those hair cells to recover. This is called temporary threshold shift.
But—and this is important—repeated exposure means those temporary shifts become permanent. Once hair cells are truly damaged, they don't regenerate. The ringing becomes constant. For many people with chronic tinnitus, it's there when they wake up, when they're trying to work, and especially when they're trying to fall asleep in a quiet room.
Professional CS:GO players have spoken publicly about dealing with tinnitus triggered by in-game flashbang sounds. For some, it's become a chronic condition that affects their quality of life beyond gaming.
What You Can Do Right Now
The good news? You have control over this. Here's how to protect your hearing while still gaming at your best:
Follow the 60/60 rule: Keep volume at 60% or lower, and take a 10-15 minute break every 60 minutes. During breaks, step away from all sound—no music, no videos, just quiet.
Check your levels: If you can hear your game audio when your headset is an arm's length away from your head, it's too loud. Use a sound meter app on your phone to check that you're staying below 85 dB.
Use the "conversation test": If someone in the same room can't get your attention by speaking at a normal volume, your game audio is too loud.
Consider noise-canceling headphones: These block external sounds so you don't need to turn up the volume to compensate for environmental noise. Some newer gaming headsets even include real-time decibel monitoring.
Get custom gaming earplugs: Musicians have been using custom earplugs with filters for years—they reduce volume to safe levels while maintaining sound clarity. The same technology is now available for gamers.
When to See an Audiologist
You should get your hearing checked if:
The ringing lasts more than 24 hours after gaming
You're experiencing it more frequently or it's getting louder
You notice you're having trouble understanding people in conversations
Sounds seem muffled even hours after taking off your headset
You feel pain or fullness in your ears during or after gaming
Gamer Red-Flag Symptoms & When to Act
Symptom | In-game example | When to see an audiologist |
Ringing/buzzing after gaming (tinnitus) | Ears “ring” after scrims or ranked, especially at night | If it lasts >24 hours or keeps coming back |
Muffled hearing | Teammates sound dull; dialogue feels “far away” | If it lasts more than a few hours after gaming |
Trouble in background noise | Can’t follow team comms in LANs or noisy rooms | As soon as you notice this becoming frequent |
Sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) | Normal sounds feel sharp or painful, even at low volume | ASAP – this needs evaluation early |
As someone who runs an esports venue and works with gamers daily at The Vault Gaming Center, I see these symptoms constantly. An audiologist who specializes in esports hearing health can provide a baseline hearing test, recommend custom hearing protection designed for gaming, and help manage tinnitus if you're already experiencing it.
As an esports audiologist, I work with gamers to:
✓ Provide comprehensive hearing assessments
✓ Design custom hearing protection that maintains audio clarity
✓ Develop sustainable gaming practices
✓ Manage existing tinnitus symptoms
What Esports Audiology Actually Does for Gamers
Service you get | What it means in real life matches |
Baseline & follow-up hearing tests | You know if your hours of scrims are starting to cause damage. |
Custom hearing protection tuned for gaming | You keep directional audio and comms, but cut the damage. |
Coaching on safe listening & session structure | You can grind ranked without burning through your “hearing budget.” |
Tinnitus management strategies | Less ringing, better focus, fewer “I can’t concentrate” moments. |
The Bottom Line
You wouldn't play through a wrist injury. You wouldn't ignore eye strain that could lead to permanent vision problems. Your hearing deserves the same respect.
Gaming is your passion, maybe even your career. Protecting your hearing isn't about giving that up—it's about making sure you can keep doing what you love for decades to come. The temporary advantage of maxed-out volume isn't worth permanent hearing damage.
Take breaks. Turn it down. Get your hearing checked.
Your future self will thank you.
Want to learn more about protecting your hearing as a gamer? Visit esportsaudiology.com where you can schedule a consultation with me and get a baseline hearing test with custom protection options designed specifically for gaming.
FAQ: Gamers, Tinnitus, and Hearing Loss
Q1. Are gamers really at higher risk of tinnitus and hearing loss? Yes. A large review of 50,000+ gamers found that frequent gaming at loud volumes is linked to a higher risk of both tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss compared to non-gamers. Gaming sound levels often reach or exceed safe limits, especially in competitive shooters and esports.
Q2. How loud is too loud for gaming headsets? Once your headset is above roughly 85–90 dB for long periods, your risk of permanent damage goes up. At around 100 dB—similar to a chainsaw or rock concert—hearing damage can start in as little as 15 minutes of exposure.
Table 2 – “Approximate Safe Daily Listening Time by Volume”
Volume level (dB) | What it’s like in real life | Approx. safe time per day* |
85 dB | Busy street, loud conversation | 8 hours |
88 dB | Very loud room, turned-up TV | 4 hours |
91 dB | Shouting at close range / loud shooter | 2 hours |
94 dB | Motorcycle at close range | 1 hour |
97 dB | Very loud game audio in headset | 30 minutes |
100 dB | Chainsaw / rock concert / maxed headset | 15 minutes |
Bottom line: if your gaming headset is running around 95–100 dB, a single ranked session can max out your entire safe dose for the day.
Safe Listening Checklist for Gamers
Keep in-game volume at no more than ~60–70% of the slider.
Use noise-isolating or noise-cancelling headsets so you don’t have to crank the volume.
Take a 5–10 minute break every hour to reset your ears.
If your ears ring after gaming, turn it down next session and book a hearing test.
Never stack loud gaming with concerts, mowing, or power tools on the same day without protection.
Q3. When should a gamer see an audiologist? Book a hearing evaluation if you notice ringing or buzzing after gaming, muffled hearing, difficulty understanding conversations in noise, or increased sensitivity to everyday sounds. These are early warning signs that your ears may already be under stress.
About the Author
Dr. Brian James, AuD, CCC-A is a clinical audiologist, founder of Esports Audiology, a niche initiative focused on hearing conservation and performance for gamers, streamers, and esports teams.
He brings together more than a decade of clinical experience with hands-on work running an esports venue—testing headsets, listening environments, and real-world play patterns every day. Dr. James helps players, parents, and programs build setups that protect hearing and sharpen competitive awareness, so gamers don't have to choose between rank today and healthy hearing tomorrow.
Learn more at esportsaudiology.com