Is Santa aware that his Christmas toys could cause harm?
There are toys on the market today that omit noises that can exceed 80 decibels (dBs) This level of sound can cause irreversible damage to a child’s hearing. Did you realise Children's ears are especially sensitive to loud noise?
Hearing loss because of noise is cumulative; it happens gradually over time, the distance and time of concentrated play will have a crucial role in this hearing loss. Try to avoid children playing with toys close to their ears, especially over a long period of time or in enclosed spaces.
We want to recommend that you to take some steps before buying toys with sounds: Think!
Does the toy make a loud noise when turned on? If it sounds loud to you, it is too loud for your child.
There are several free smartphone apps available that allow you to take a rough measurement of decibel levels:
Sound Meter for Android (DOWNLOAD)
Decibel X: dB, dBA Noise Meter for iPhone (DOWNLOAD)
Put masking tape (Cellotape) over the speaker of the toy to reduce the volume.
Please, we all love a talking or music toy, but try to think before you give it to your child; prevent permanent damage to their hearing.
