Global standard for safe listening video gameplay and esports
Overview
This standard supports WHO’s Make Listening Safe initiative, by aiming to improve listening practices for young people during video gameplay and esports activities.
A WHO-led systematic scoping review suggests that video gameplay may be a common source of unsafe listening, which could place many individuals worldwide at risk of permanent hearing loss and/or tinnitus based on the current available research.
In response, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) embarked on developing the World’s first technical standard for safe listening in video gameplay and esports.
This document outlines the key features and requirements that video gameplay devices and/or video gameplay software titles must have in order to facilitate safe listening practices among users, as set out in the ITU-T H.872 Safe listening for video gameplay and esports.
The recommendations in this document are based on the best available knowledge and evidence on principles of hearing loss prevention and criteria for hearing damage caused by sound. They also address the need for, and methods of, communication to facilitate behaviour change in users of video gameplay devices, video gameplay, software titles, and those who participate in esports activities.
Links and further information:
- Risk of sound induced hearing loss from exposure to video gaming or esports: a systematic scoping review
- WHO background paper: Safe listening in video gaming and esports
- All Joint ITU and WHO workshops on safe listening in video gameplay
- Make listening safe initiative
