We know that music concerts and other sources of loud sounds can lower auditory acuity in people both young and old.  But have you considered that children’s toys might put them at risk for hearing loss?

Katie Dease, of the Mayo Clinic writes that some toys can produce levels of sound equal to 90 decibels, with is as loud as or louder than a lawn mower.   Because children often play with toys at a close distance, holding them near their faces and ears, that volume can go up to as high as 120 decibels, which is as loud as an aircraft taking off.  At these levels, hearing protection is actually needed.

Do a sound test before buying

As a parents or other gift giver, it would be wise to  check the noise levels of a toy before buying.  Test the volume by holding the toy close to your face or crouch down to test how noisy it is for a child who plays on the ground.   If it sounds too loud to you, it’s too loud for the child.

Try to lower the sound level

Toys: Try placing clear tape over the speaker. This has been shown to lower the sound level and may be safer for children’s ears.  Check if the sound volume can be reduced or switched off certain toys.

Music and headphones:  If children and teens have a music player with earphones, parents should stand near their child when they are listening. If you can hear the music, it’s too loud.

Output-limiting headphones are an excellent gift option. In most cases, they automatically limit the output level to about 85 decibels, which is a safe volume for up to eight hours. Many devices, such as cellphones and tablets, have noise output-limiting settings that can be activated.

You also can invest in custom earbuds or noise-canceling headphones that help block background noise, allowing you to decrease the volume.

Instruments:

Some musical gifts are welcome but be aware of those that can do harm to hearing. For all musicians, but especially drummers, smart hearing health care is essential.

Older musicians may benefit from musician earplugs that limit sound without compromising musical integrity.

• Drummers should try practicing with drum pads as much as possible. This will eliminate loud noiseswhile still offering a surface for rehearsing stick strokes.
• Another approach is to limit practice to intervals. Try practicing, with ear protection, for 30 to 60 minutes, taking a break for the same amount of time to give your ears a rest, then going back to practice.

Above image supplied by Freepik.