Video gamers worldwide may be at risk of developing an irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus -- persistent ringing/buzzing in the ears, according to a study.

While headphones, earbuds, and music venues have been recognised as sources of potentially unsafe sound levels, relatively little attention has been paid to the effects of video games, including e-sports, on hearing loss, said the researchers, which include experts from the World Health Organisation and the University of South Carolina.