We’re rapidly approaching the festive season, when many people delight in treating children to gifts, mainly toys.  But before you make a selection for a young child, consider whether or not the toy makes a noise.

Dennis Thompson reports that the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) is warning parents that noisy playthings can do long-lasting damage to a child’s hearing

The ADD says that tiny ears are particularly susceptible to hearing damage. The inner ear contains delicate hair cells that don’t regrow, resulting in permanent hearing loss if damaged by noise.

What’s more, children like to hold toys up to their ears while playing.

In an AAA news release, they stated that many parents don’t realize the permanent damage a simple toy can inflict on a child’s hearing. “When we fail to protect a child’s hearing, the result can be irreversible hearing loss.

We are born with about 16,000 hair cells within the cochlea, the part of the inner ear involved with hearing. Those cells allow the brain to detect sound.  These need to be protected in order to function well.  In addition, noise can also damage the auditory nerve that carries signals from the ear to the brain.

So before you buy a noise-making toy, download a phone app to test the sound levels emitted by the toy.

American guidelines acknowledge 85 decibels as the level at which noise can cause damage to a person’s hearing, if they’re exposed to the sound for extended periods of time. If 85 decibels or higher is registered when holding your phone near them, like a child would hold the toy near their own ear, the toy may be risking damage to the ear.

It is hardly necessary to remind ourselves of the challenges faced by children with hearing problems. These can set a child back at school as well in social life.  Apart from missing what is being said, they use so much extra effort to hear, they often become distracted and exhausted by the end of the day. Lack of focus and even depression can result from difficulty hearing.  It is also likely that hearing problems may be mistaken for learning disabilities.

With this in mind, it is well worth exercising caution when buying sound-producing toys, including video games.   Whenever possible, make sure the level of sound of particularly games are set at an acceptable, non-harmful level and teach children to keep them at that level.

Also be aware of any signs of hearing difficulties that your child might be showing and have them tested if you are concerned.

Image supplied by Freepik.