'The loss of hearing due to noise is cumulative and it happens gradually over the years', therefore every time we expose ourselves to excessive noise (and do the same with our children) we put our health at risk.
This is a clarification of the entity of attention to hearing impairment KEY, from where you are alerted about irreversible injuries that can cause many of the toys we find in any house with children. They are those that exceed 80 decibels, and parents should act responsibly when buying, and if necessary denouncing, since the appropriate warnings are not always expressed in the boxes. We always talk about discarding packaging, not letting children under three years old play with small pieces; We remember that toys cannot obstruct places of passage or stay in the middle of a staircase. But we are rarely aware of the dangers associated with noise caused by toys !; This noise can be hypnotizing or annoying for children, irritating to parents, and even harmful to children's ears.
There are toys that generate noise between 110 and 135 decibels: the same one that causes a plane to take off or a rock concert. Items that seem as harmless as the talking figure of Buzz Light Year, the sword of the Ninja turtles, Dora the explorer or the Barbie laptop exceed 100 dB when connected at full volume and top the famous list of dangerous toys made by the American entity Sight and Hearing
There are other products that do not exceed 90 decibels, but cause a noise so constant that it is equally harmful if its use lasts more than 15 minutes. Situation to which we can add that those 90 dB can be converted to 120 near the ear, because it is not played according to the recommendations of use (which sometimes serve little once engaged in the game).
Recommendations to parents
One of the recommendations (in addition to previously ensuring the amount of noise generated by the toy) is to check those places where the toys are stored as wooden or plastic boxes where they collide while the child searches or empties their contents. A good idea is to line them with cloth to reduce the sound impact. But let's continue
Listen before buying, in line with the guidelines established by the American Speech and Hearing Association (SHA). Thus, if the sound is very strong for an adult, so will it be for a child. It is best to choose those items with a limiter or volume control and that, of course, comply with European regulations and bear the CE mark. You can also take another series of measures such as removing the batteries or placing adhesive tape on the speakers to cushion and reduce the volume. And if it is too strong, a good idea is to restrict its use for outdoor play areas. All that is necessary rather than allowing hearing damage in the child.
KEY asks parents to check if toys can harm their children's hearing as carefully as they do with those that contain small pieces with which they can choke. 'We have become accustomed to noise without thinking about the damage it can cause. Many families believe that it is not a problem to worry about until their children are teenagers, when they listen to their music, they undergo long video game sessions, go to concerts or frequent noisy environments, but this is a mistake'.
It seems that if parents buy noisy gifts they give children the idea that hearing health is not important. Children should be educated on the importance of preserving their hearing capacity as a preventive measure, so healthy listening habits must be encouraged at all times
And finally remember that we must also take care of other habits such as listening to television at an exaggerated volume.
