FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2005
Contact: Kim Loftus, Director of Development and Communications
(269) 343-2601 kiml@cbrown.org
Little Tommy's Christmas Present - Looks Exciting But May Be Too Loud
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- A toy's sound level is another reason to carefully choose the perfect toy for a holiday present, too loud could cause damage to your sweet toddlers ears not just to the parents.
Many toys are designed to be stimulating on many levels, but for the infant or child who holds playthings close to them and listens to them at an even closer range, the risk is great for hearing loss.
A study released in October 2004 by the Option Consommateurs in Quebec City found that 63% of the 40 sound producing toys marketed in Canada exceeded the Canadian standard (100dB) when the noise was measured at 1 centimeter from the microphone. Some toys are so noisy that they may damage children's hearing immediately or may cause hearing loss from regular exposure.
The League of Hard of Hearing (www.lhh.org) states that 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) indicates that continued exposure to noise over 85dBA or impulse noise exceeding 140 dB peak will harm your hearing.
Many of today's toys do conform to the Safety Requirements of ASTM F963 (American Society for Testing and Materials). The Safety Requirements states, "Toys shall not produce impulsive noises with an instantaneous sound pressure level exceeding 138dB when measured at any position 25cm from the surface of the toy."
However some toys which are the usual violators - electric guitars, drums, and horns; toy phones; toys producing firearm sounds; and toy caps and other noise making guns - can exceed 138dB at the level of a child's ear.
Constance Brown Hearing Centers' executive director and president, Dr. Dennis Burrows, advises shoppers and parents, "The best thing you can do is to listen to the toy before buying it. If it sounds loud to you, it may be harmful to your child's hearing. It's important that if you do select a noise making toy that you consider the following: 1.) select one with a volume control and an on-off button, 2.) remove the batteries before giving (gives parents the control of when to turn on), and 3.) plan to limit the time the child will play with the toy."
Constance Brown Hearing Centers was established as a non-profit agency in 1942 to prevent hearing loss and help the hearing impaired regardless of a patient's ability to pay. That mission has expanded to include diagnostic testing, hearing aids, advocacy and specialized programs that serve area residents from birth to old age. Two locations are open weekdays to serve patients at 1634 Gull Road in Kalamazoo and 4855 West Centre Avenue in Portage. For more information, please call (269) 343.2601 or find us on the Internet at www.cbrown.org.