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Big question: Kids and noisy toys

Just what is that new battery-operated toy doing to my kid (besides driving me insane)?
The expert: Dr. Edward W. Korabic, certified audiologist and chair of Marquette's Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology

"Children's toys can be very noisy. Besides giving their parents a headache, the toy may cause damage to the child's hearing. According to National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, exposure to sound levels greater than 85 decibels can permanently damage hearing. The greater the sound level above 85 decibels, the less time it takes for the sound to cause damage to the ear. Unfortunately, some of the toys available on the market today (check out this list) can produce decibel levels that far exceed what would be considered safe to hearing — especially if the toy is held close to the ear and played with repeatedly and for extended periods of time.

"Although the effect of workplace noise on hearing is well established, non-workplace or recreational noise is another source of potentially damaging sound. Every day, we are exposed to potentially damaging sources of sound from personal music players, off-road vehicles, powered tools, kitchen appliances, high-wattage hair dryers and even children's playthings. The hearing loss that results from exposure to loud sound is called noise-induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative in that it usually doesn't result from a single exposure to loud sound. Instead, it is a gradual loss of hearing that results from repeated and prolonged exposure to loud sound. That is why it is important to take measures very early in life to protect our hearing.

"To protect your child's hearing, the Sight and Hearing Association offers the following tips:

• Listen to a toy before you buy it. If it sounds loud to you, it's too loud for your child.

• Put masking or packing tape over the toy's speaker. This will help reduce the volume.  

"Even small hearing losses in children can have a devastating effect on a child's speech, language, emotional, social and educational development. If you suspect that your child may have a hearing loss, you should have your child's hearing evaluated by an audiologist as soon as possible."

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