Toys that could damage your child's hearing
December 05, 2013
UCI Health otolaryngologist Dr. Hamid Djalilian and his team tested more than two dozen popular toys to determine which had the highest sound levels in three scenarios: at the ear with no tape over the speaker, at the ear with tape over the speaker and at a child's arm's length (approximately 30 centimeters) with tape over the speaker.
Djalilian suggests a couple of things parents can do keep down the volume on toys:
- Put occlusive tape or super glue over the speaker to mute the sound
- Put tape over the volume control, preventing your child from increasing the volume to unsafe levels
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Noise-induced hearing loss can result from a single exposure to a very loud sound (120 dB or more), or by listening to loud noises at or above 85 dB for an extended period of time.
Thomas & Friends Light-Up Talking Percy
|
108 |
78
|
72
|
Leap Frog Chat & Count
|
106
|
95
|
67
|
Leap Frog Lil' Phone Pal
|
106
|
85
|
69
|
Fisher Price 1-2-3 Crawl-Along Snail
|
103
|
82
|
70
|
Sesame Street Let's Rock Grover Microphone
|
101
|
98
|
75
|
Sesame Street Elmo Guitar
|
101
|
82
|
73
|
Bright Starts Chuck & Learn Barn (Pig)
|
99
|
88
|
86
|
Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Music Player
|
97
|
90
|
69
|
Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Guitar
|
97
|
86
|
69
|
B Your Turns
|
90
|
85
|
71
|
Toys for children over three years old
|
dB
without tape |
dB
with tape |
dB at arm's length
with tape
|
Fisher Price Skate & Spin Dora & Boots
|
119
|
89
|
86
|
Sofia the First Time to Shine Sing-Along Boombox
|
111
|
92
|
85
|
Disney's Doc McStuffins On Call Cell Phone
|
106 |
96
|
78
|
Leap Frog Scribble & Write
|
105
|
84
|
78
|
Disney's Minnie Twinkle Bows Play Vacuum Cleaner
|
105
|
cannot tape
|
82
|
Tonka Mighty Fleet Fire Truck
|
104
|
83
|
79
|
| Tonka Toughest Minis UTV Police |
101 |
94
|
84
|
Road Rippers Ambulance
|
101
|
87
|
81
|
Jakk's Pacific The Little Mermaid Musical Necklace
|
101 |
91
|
73
|
Road Rippers K-9 Units
|
99
|
85
|
78
|
Road Rippers Helicopter (engine noise)
|
97
|
88
|
73
|
Toys for children over eight years old
|
dB
without tape
|
dB
with tape
|
dB at arm's length
with tape
|
Bop It! Smash
|
125
|
90
|
84
|
Twister Dance Rave
|
110
|
107
|
80
|
Legend Smoke N' Barrel
|
108
|
92
|
80
|
Bop It! Tetris
|
103
|
73
|
76
|
Bop It! Carabiner Edition
|
98
|
78
|
67
|
