As consumers snap up electronic toys as gifts for all ages, another, very real danger is being overlooked, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
To date, this health threat has been largely overlooked as news reports have focused on the lead content of toys, and other serious concerns.
In its November 20, 2007 news release “CPSC Delivers the ABC's of Toy Safety”, hearing damage from noisy toys or electronic devices is completely absent from the list of dangers to children, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Yet electronics are among the fastest-growing segment of the toy market, and are being marketed to younger and younger children (see ABC News “Toddlers Go High-Tech” http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3933565&affil=wjla).
“It is up to adults to safeguard our children and protect them from dangers that we can easily avoid, including lead, choke hazards — and hearing damage from loud toys or playing videogames and music too loud, too long,” said Noma Anderson, Ph.D. president of ASHA.
Loud toys and personal listening technologies that aren't used safely pose a threat to ears of all ages. Once damaged, ears do not heal. For children, hearing loss can also lead to other problems, including difficulties in academic and social development.
As younger and younger children are asking for – and receiving – electronic toys and music devices like MP3s and iPods, it is critical that parents learn how to protect their children's hearing and teach them safe listening habits.
Here are some simple guidelines:
How to Maintain Healthy Hearing
- If you must raise your voice to be heard, it is loud enough to damage hearing.
- When evaluating toys for small children, bear in mind that their arms are short and they tend to hold toys close to their face, making noises even louder.
- If you can hear music from someone else's earphones three feet away, it's too loud.
- Give your ears a break from continuous listening.
- Upgrade headphones so that they isolate music from background noise. Lower volumes can then be used.
- Set volume limiters before allowing children to use electronic items.
- www.listentoyourbuds.org is a fun website created by hearing experts and educators with video games for kids, and information for teachers, parents and reporters to learn about hearing safety. The site is also available in Spanish.
How to Recognize Hearing Loss in Children