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Washington: Some
popular toys produce noise equal to that of a chain saw or rumble
of a subway train and could damage hearing of children, reveals a
study.
Otolaryngology (dealing with the ear, nose and throat) researchers
from the University of California Irvine, tested 10 of the loudest
toys available in stores and found that they exceed 90 deciBels
and several reached 100 or more deciBels.
The toys include Road Rippers Lightning Rods, Tonka Mighty
Motorized Fire Truck, Marvel Super Shield Captain America, Green
Lantern Colossal Cannon, etc, said a university statement.
"Generally toys are safe if used properly," said Hamid Djalilian,
associate professor of otolaryngology and director of neurotology
and skull base surgery at California.
"We tested the sound levels at the speaker and again at 12 inches,
which is about the length of a toddler's arm," he said.
According to Djalilian: "Children are very sensitive to loud and
high-pitched sounds. Problems can arise if a noisy toy is held too
close to the ears, hearing loss from noise damage is permanent and
not currently curable."
Unprotected exposure to sounds above 85 decibels for a prolonged
period can lead to hearing impairment, according to the American
Academy of Otolaryngology.
Two factors contribute to this - loudness and duration. The louder
a sound is, the less time it takes to cause hearing loss,
Djalilian noted.
He suggested that someone buying a noisy toy for a child should
pay attention to the speaker's location, which usually should be
under the item than on top.
Djalilian also recommended that an adult should hold the toy and
listen to its sound.
"If it hurts your ears then it's probably too loud for a child,"
he added.
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