‘Tis the Season of Noisy Toys!
Posted by Living Sounds
Season’s Greetings! The Christmas Season is once again upon us. Whether you are a grandparent, parent, aunt, or uncle, when buying gifts for the youngsters in the family it is important to check out the noise level of the toys. Instead of thinking “I’m going to get the noisiest toy! It’ll drive his parents crazy,” stop and think what it may do to the child’s hearing. Health Canada bans toys that have a noise level that exceeds 100 decibels (dB), but it’s important to remember that prolonged exposure to noise levels of 85 dB could possibly result in hearing loss.
Some of the more common toys that pose a noise danger include toys with horns and sirens, musical instruments, talking dolls, and cap guns, just to name a few.
Here are some tips when buying a toy that makes noise:
- Make sure it has an on/off switch or a volume control.
- Look for the noise level of the toy before purchasing it.
- Hold the toy about 12 inches from your head. If you flinch the toy is too loud.
- If you receive a toy that is too loud, take the batteries out of the toy.
- Put tape over the speaker to muffle some of the sound. Only do this if your child is older and has passed the stage of putting everything in his/her mouth.
- Limit the amount of time your child plays with the toy.
Click here to get a list of the top 10 noisiest toys of 2016.
If you feel that your child or a child in your family has been exposed to prolonged noise please call us at Living Sounds Hearing Centre at 1.877.447.4010 and we would be happy to set up a hearing evaluation.
