VOLUME 22, NUMBER 1, 1997
Noisy Toys -- Some Toys Are Not So Much Fun As They Look
Nancy B. Nadler, M.E.D., M.A.
Director of the Noise Center at the League for the Hard of Hearing.
That noise exposure can cause hearing loss is undeniable. Research has shown that noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss for the 28 million people with impaired hearing in the United States. Because hearing loss affects communication, it creates a ripple effect with a negative impact on a person’s social, vocational and emotional well-being. Even more alarming, is the increasing incidence of hearing loss among our youth. Noise-induced hearing loss typically occurs gradually, and for our children, who are exposed to an onslaught of noise at home, in recreational activities and in the community, the risk can be widespread.
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent -- once you lose your hearing from noise, you can’t get it back. But noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. For the child whose ears are particularly vulnerable to noise, it is never too early to consider the need for hearing conservation. It is not just noise from factory machinery, aircraft or loud music that can be damaging to hearing. Many toys designed to stimulate our children can be dangerously loud. For the infant or child who most typically listens to these toys close to the small, sensitive ear, the risk is even greater. Just as a parent is educated not to give a young child a toy with small piece, so too must the parent become educated about the dangers of many loud toys.
Current Safety Regulations
Many of today’s noisy toys indicate on the packaging that they Conform to the Safety Requirements of ASTM F963 (American Society of Testing Materials). The Safety Requirement states, "Toys shall not produce impulsive noises with an instantaneous sound pressure level exceeding 138 dB when measured at any position 25cm from the surface of the toy." (This is louder than a jet taking off or the sound of a jack-hammer). The Consumer Product Safety Commission has indicated that it does not currently have regulations that address the loudness of toys.
How Loud Is Too Loud?
To know if a sound is loud enough to cause damage to your ears, it is important to know both the level of intensity (measured in decibels, dBA) and the length of exposure to the sound. In general, the louder the sound, the less time required before hearing will be affected. Standards set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) indicate that continued exposure to noise over 85 dBA will eventually harm your hearing. To avoid noise-induced hearing loss, OSHA recommends that hearing protection be worn in the workplace when loudness levels and exposure time exceed the allowable standards.
For example, 15 minutes exposure at 115 dBA is considered dangerous to hearing, and even an exposure of less than two minutes at 130 dBA may be hazardous to hearing. Although OSHA protects a person in the workplace, the same protection is not available for our children.
Some Examples of Noisy Toys
Certain rattles and squeaky toys are measured at sound levels as high as 110 dBA.
Musical toys, such as electric guitars, drums and horns, emit sounds as loud as 120 dBA.
Toy phones for small children are measured between 123 and 129 dBA.
Toys that are designed to amplify the voice are measured at up to 135 dBA.
Toys producing firearm sounds emit volumes as loud as 150 dBA one foot away from the noise source.
Noise levels at video arcades can be as high as 110 dBA.
Firecrackers create sound levels ranging from 125-155 dBA at an average distance of 10 feet and pose a serious hazard to hearing.
Noise emitted from cap guns can be measured in excess of 140 dBA.
Parent Responsibility
Protect your children. Be aware that noise can and does cause hearing loss. Listen to a toy before buying it. If it sounds loud, hurts your ears or causes ringing, do not buy it. Remember that once hearing is damaged, it cannot be restored. Report the toy to the Noise Center at the League for the Hard of Hearing at (212) 741-3147 or TTY at (212) 255-1932 or to the Consumer Products Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or TTY at 1-800-638-8270. These complaints may support the need for a change in current regulations. Without regulations to limit the volume on toys, however, it is up to parents to provide children with safe listening environments and to ensure that their hearing is protected for the future.