Sound off
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Study suggests toys can be dangerously loud
For the fourth year, the Sight & Hearing Association and researchers from the University of Minnesota tested toys for noise. What we found may surprise you.
The test In past studies, the loudest toys have traditionally - and not surprisingly - been guns, registering around 123 decibels (dB). This year, all the toys we chose were significantly quieter, averaging in the mid-90s. That's good news. "Most of the toys we chose this year were baby toys," explained Julee Sylvester, director of public relations and marketing. "I'm happy to see that a child could play safely (up to eight hours) with most of them. However, I still wouldn't let my baby lay next to a few of these toys." One of the loudest toys on the list, the Electronic Talking Nursery Rhyme Bus by Tek-Nek International, measured at 108 dB. That's loud enough to pose a potential hearing risk after one hour - and the toy is geared for a baby 10 months and up. The second loudest toy in the study was the Pull-Up Blast Ball by Fisher Price, sounding off around 105 dB. The recommended age for this toy? Nine months. Because of a child's shorter arm span, toys are often potentially more dangerous because children hold them closer to their ears. In the Sight & Hearing Association study, the toys were tested for noise levels at a distance of zero and 12 inches to simulate the way a child might hold the toy - either directly next to their ear or at arm's length. A soundproof booth was used to ensure an accurate recording. Currently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) does not have regulations that address the loudness of toys. Another regulatory agency, the American Society of Testing and Materials, requires only that toys not exceed 138 dB when measured 25 cm from the surface of the toy. That is louder than a gunshot or a jet at take-off. Standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) for the nation's workers indicate that continued exposure to noise over 85 dB will eventually harm hearing. What should you do if your child receives a loud toy this Christmas? First, if you can't return it, make sure the child does not play with the toy near his or her ears. Second, report the toy to the Sight & Hearing Association (for potential testing) at 800/992-0424 ext. 12 and to the CPSC Unsafe Product Hotline at 800/638-2772. |
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Approximately 5.2 million Americans ages 6 to 19 have noise-induced hearing loss in at least one ear. Those are the results of a seven-year study by the National Center for Health Statistics of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The authors of the study conclude that children are being exposed to excessive and potentially damaging levels of noise. They point to the need for research on appropriate hearing conservation methods and screening programs for school-aged children. They also suggest public health intervention, including education, exposure assessment, noise control and hearing protection. |
Vision vouchers deemed a success
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Many kids need glasses, yet they go without because their parent or guardian can't afford them. Our Vision Voucher Project for Kids, introduced this year, answers the need by giving uninsured children who are screened by us a free eye exam and glasses.
From February through September, 454 children received vouchers as a result of a failed vision screening. They were then able to go to one of our 27 partners for their eye exam. Because of the follow-up care, various problems - ranging from astigmatism and myopia (nearsightedness) to amblyopia and strabismus - were detected and treated. A child who received a pair of glasses through the Vision Voucher program wrote the following letter. It illustrates the whole reason for this program. Dear Kathy Webb, I like my new glasses. They help [me] to see the board in the front of the class. I also can read better. The glasses help me to see things. I can see things better farther. Before the first time I got my new glasses I had a hard time with my glasses. Now I'm used to my new glasses. Sometimes I have a hard time reading because I put my head down and I'm not supposed to do that. Thank you for the glasses. Sincerely, Orlando
Our partners
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Track your child's ear infections
As common as the common cold, ear infections strike two out of three babies before age 1. If ear infections are left untreated, they can lead to more serious problems - a hearing loss and/or language delays. To help parents keep track of their child's ear infections, the Sight & Hearing Association has developed the Ear Infection Tracking Card. Whether the child is seen by his pediatrician or at an urgent care facility, mom or dad can keep a handy record of the child's hearing history. To get a copy of the wallet-sized card, send $1 and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Sight & Hearing Association, c/o Ear Infection Tracking Card, 674 Transfer Road, St. Paul, MN 55114. |
Dine or Dash: A noise review of restaurants
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How many times have you been out to eat and found yourself raising your voice to talk over the clatter and chatter? If you have a noisy restaurant you would like us to check out, please call Julee Sylvester at 651/645-2546, ext. 12.
Location: Buca di Beppo, Minneapolis Atmosphere: Fun, family-style restaurant, where large dishes are shared amongst your table and large groups are the norm. Various dining areas are set up with long tables (basically stacked on top of each other) to accommodate as many people as possible.
Average dB level: 87 dB(A) The main dish: The restaurant, as usual, was packed. Even with a 7 p.m. reservation, we still had to wait a half-hour to be seated. Diners are seated elbow-to-elbow, leaving little personal dining space. Tables also are set close to one another, making you feel as if you could easily join another group. Seated at a long, rectangular table of 10, we had to shout to talk to our friends at the other end. Rating on a scale of one to four bells (with one being quiet and four being noisy): 4 Would you recommend this restaurant as conversation-friendly? Not exactly. Make sure you like the person you're sitting next to, because that's who you'll primarily talk with. |
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When you think of dangerous toys, you probably think of parts sharp enough to poke or tiny enough to choke a child. Another hazard to consider when shopping for your tiny tyke this holiday season - or any season - is noise.