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NOISY TOYS AND HEARING LOSS DANGERS ....... 1

ISSUE 6
VOLUME 3
2013
HEARING PROTECTORS—
WHEN ARE HEARING PROTECTORS RECOMMENDED…….2
 KID SAFE EARBUDS—
ANOTHER W AY TO PROTECT
YOUR CHILD’S HEARING.... 2
Hear
and
Now
Focusing on Pediatrics
Noisy Toys and Hearing Loss Dangers
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs when tiny sensory hair cells in our inner ears are damaged by noises that are too
loud and that last for too long. But how loud is too loud, and how much time is too long? The answers are related: the louder
the sound, the shorter the time before damage can occur. Levels above 100 Decibels for more than one hour risks permanent
hearing loss. No more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure recommended at 110 Decibels. Prolonged exposure to any
noise at or above 85 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss. The chart below shows sound levels and when they become
harmful.
Decibels
150
120
110
105
100
95
90
85
60
40
30
0
How loud is too Loud?
Sound Source
Firecracker
Ambulance siren
Chain saw, Rock concert
Personal stereo system at maximum level
Wood shop, Snowmobile
Motorcycle
Power mower
Heavy city traffic
Normal conversation
Refrigerator humming
Whispered voice
Threshold of normal hearing
Maximum Exposure
0 Minutes
3 Minutes
15 Minutes
30 Minutes
1 Hour
2 Hours
4 Hours
8 Hours
What you may not know, is that some toys for children have the potential to harm your child’s hearing. According to Sight and
Hearing Association, the following list shows some of the noisiest toys for 2012.
TOY
Manufacturer
Age Group
Type of
Toy
Decibels
at 0”
Disney Pixar Toy Story Figure Buzz Lightyear
Mattel, Inc.
3y+
Hand-held 111
81.6
Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—
Leonardo’s Electronic Sword
Playmates Toys
4y+
Hand-held 109.2
81.6
Dora the Explorer—Dora’s Desert Friends
Publications Int’l, Ltd.
18 months + Hand-held 108.2
80.4
Barbie Little Learner Laptop
Oregon Scientific
3y+
83.8
Playskool/123 Sesame Street—Let’s Rock Grover
Microphone
Hasbro
18m - 4y
B. Woofer (Guitar)
108
Decibels
at 10”
Hand-held 107.3
79.3
Mason Joseph Battat, Ltd. 2-6y
Hand-held 106.5
80.4
Matchbox/Power Shift Fire Truck
Mattel, Inc.
3y+
Floor
83
Playskool/Rock-tivity Jump n’ Jam Guitar
Hasbro
9m+
Hand-held 105.1
77.4
Fisher-Price/Disney Pixar Cars
Mattel, Inc.
3-7y
Hand-held 105
or Floor
80.9
Shake ‘n Go! El Materdor Twister Dance
Hasbro
8y+
Floor
104.6
77.7
Littlest Pet Shop—Sing-a-long Pup
Hasbro
4y+
Hand-held 103.8
73.1
Marvel Avengers Iron Man Mission Mask
Hasbro
6y+
Face
76
Fisher-Price/Disney Baby Rockin’ Tunes Dumbo
Mattel, Inc.
6-36 mos.
Hand-held 95.7
105.7
101.7
72.1
Hearing Protection—When are Hearing Protectors Recommended?
Hearing protectors are recommended whenever a person’s hearing is exposed to
noise levels that exceed a certain level and time. Scientists have set this level in
the workplace at 85 decibels for exposures longer than eight continuous hours. The
louder the sound, the shorter the time before damage can occur.
In practical terms, your child won’t damage his or her hearing by temporarily cranking up the volume for a favorite song or by taking a short ride on the subway. On
the other hand, your tween could potentially damage his or her hearing by listening
to music at maximum volume for an extended period of time. The same is true
when your tween participates in any activity that exceeds a safe noise level and
listening time.
Your child should wear hearing protectors while using a lawn mower, operating many power tools, or riding a snowmobile or
farm tractor. Hearing protectors may also be advisable when your tween attends certain events in stadiums, gymnasiums,
amusement parks, auditoriums, and other entertainment venues. Auto races, sporting events, and music concerts of all types
(e.g., symphonies and rock) can be too loud for long-term exposure without hearing protectors.
Hearing protectors are an absolute must if your tween hunts or takes part in shooting sports. The sound of a gunshot can
reach the same level as a jet engine at takeoff. At this level, noise can damage your child’s hearing immediately and permanently. Make hearing protectors part of your child’s standard shooting-safety gear.
Children will often place their hands over their ears when things get too noisy. It won’t protect their hearing, but it is a good sign
that hearing protectors may be needed. Have hearing protectors handy for the times when the sound is too loud.
How do hearing protectors work? Hearing protectors work by reducing the level of sound that reaches hair cells in our inner
ear. They do not block out all noise, but just make all noises sound softer.
Different hearing protectors offer different levels of protection, as shown by their Noise Reduction Rating, or NRR. The higher
the NRR, the greater the protection they offer. If a hearing protector has an NRR of 22, it can reduce a potentially harmful
noise by 22 decibels. So a 100-decibel noise will be reduced to a safe level of 78 decibels (100 - 22 = 78).
Kid Safe Earbuds—Another Way to Protect Your Child’s Hearing
Children are listening to electronic devices more and more. Many of the earbuds that are on the market allow sound to reach
unsafe hearing levels (Unsafe levels are anything that is 85+ decibels for longer than 15 minutes). As you may know, when
exposed to harmful impulse noise or loud sounds over a prolonged period, sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged causing Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Exposure to harmful sounds causes damage to the hair cells as well as the
auditory, or hearing, nerve. Impulse sound can result in immediate hearing loss that may be permanent.
Teaching children when sound is too loud can be challenging and making sure they are keeping the volume under 85 decibels can be a daunting task. One way to keep hearing safe is to utilize a product that
limits the volume of the device. One such device is Kidzsafe Earbuds. These earbuds do not require
parental controls, as they automatically limit the volume to a maximum of 85 decibels and this cannot be
overridden.
Hearing Professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality of personalized and
professional diagnostic and rehabilitative balance and hearing health care services, to
maximize each individual patient’s quality of life.
HEARING PROFESSIONALS HAS 4 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
For more information on Hearing Professionals and the services we offer, please visit:
Laurel
14201 Laurel Park Drive - Suite 109
Laurel, MD 20707
Phone: 301-604-3177
Fax: 301-604-2919
Bowie
4000 Mitchellville Road - Suite B-124
Bowie, MD 20716
Phone: 301-464-2036
Fax: 301-464-9226
Waldorf
3460 Old Washington Road - Suite 203
Waldorf, MD 20602
Phone: 301-932-4237
Fax: 301-932-9027
California
23077 Three Notch Road - Suite 101
California, MD 20619
Phone: 301-737-4040
Fax: 301-737-2310