Noel Jabbour MD, Heather Weinreich, MD MPH, Samuel Levine MD

Limiting Hazardous Noise Exposure from Noisy Toys: Simple, Sticky Solutions
Noel Jabbour MD, Heather Weinreich, MD MPH, Samuel Levine MD, Bevan Yueh MD MPH,
University of Minnesota Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
ABSTRACT
Results: Mean noise level for unaltered
toys at 0 cm and 25 cm was 107.6 dBA
(SD ±8.5) and 82.5 dBA (SD ±8.8),
respectively. With tape, there was a
statistically significant decrease in noise
level at 0 cm and 25 cm: 84.2 dBA and
68.2 dBA (p < 0.001). With glue, there
was a statistically significant decrease
in noise level at 0 cm and 25 cm
(p< 0.001). The average duration of
sound produced was 9.2 seconds.
Conclusions: Both tape and glue
significantly decreased the noise level
produced by the toy without significant
difference between tape or glue.
Overall, altering the toy in either
manner can significantly decrease the
sound a child may experience when
playing with toys.
CONTACT
Noel Jabbour, MD
Department of Otolaryngology
University of Minnesota
jabb0005@umn.edu
www.ent.umn.edu
Poster Design & Printing by Genigraphics® - 800.790.4001
There has been increasing interest in recent years in
noise-induced hearing loss among youth from headphone
use. However, noise-induced threshold shifts have been
noted to occur at much earlier ages. Niskar et al. have
estimated the prevalence of noise-induced threshold
shifts in children age 6-11 to be about 8.5%. It is unclear
what risk factors may be present for young infants and
children. However, loud toys may be a risk factor in
younger children who are not old enough to regularly
wear headphones.
All toys from the 2010 SHA list (n=18) were
tested with a handheld digital sound meter in
a standard audio booth at 0 cm (estimating
toy near face) and 25 cm (estimating toy at
child’s arm’s length) from the speaker for each
of three conditions: open speaker, taped
speaker, and glued speaker.
The average duration of sound produced by a
toy was 9.2 seconds (SD ±8.6). Without
means of sound reduction, an average of
107.6 dBA (range 83.1-122.6, SD ±8.5) was
recorded at 0 cm and 82.5 dBA (range 65.3107.0, SD ±8.8) at 25 cm from the speaker.
Paired t-tests were performed to assess mean
dBA differences between the following
conditions: Open speaker vs. Tape at 0 cm,
25 cm, Open speaker vs. Glue at 0 cm, 25
cm, Tape vs. Glue at 0 cm, 25 cm. The null
hypothesis tested was that there was no
difference between observations. A two-tailed
P-value with Bonferroni adjustment was
performed. A P-value <0.008 was considered
statistically significant because of six
comparisons.
For toys under taped condition, an average of
84.2 dBA (range 58.5-115.4, SD 11.6) was
recorded at 0 cm and 68.2 dBA (range 45.394.5, SD 9.7) at 25 cm from the speaker. For
toys under glued condition, an average of
79.7 dBA (range 53.5-95.0, SD 9.1) was
recorded at 0 cm and 66.4 dBA (range 46.873.8, SD 6.9) at 25 cm.
There are no specific guidelines for the safe limits of
exposure to noisy toys for children. Federal regulations
specify continuous sounds produced by toys close to the
ear should not exceed 65 dBA while all other toys shall
not exceed 85 dBA . Nevertheless, many toys exceed
these exposure limits.
The Sight and Hearing Association (SHA) is a nonprofit
organization located in St. Paul, Minnesota with a mission
to identify preventable loss of vision and hearing in
children. Each year, the organization selects a sample of
twenty loud toys off of retailers’ shelves. The noise levels
of these toys are measured in the Department of
Otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota and
published on the SHA website in advance of the holiday
shopping season. Each year, the SHA finds that many of
these toys exceed these safe limits.
DISCUSSION
Without sound reduction, 94.4% toys were
above 85 dBA at 0 cm. This dropped to
38.9% after taping (p<.001) and 25% after
gluing (p<.001).
Fisher’s exact test was performed to assess
percentage of toys 85 dBA and greater before
and after interventions. Eighty-five decibels
was chosen as a cut off due to published
literature indicating that levels below that are
safe for most people.
The SHA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association recommend covering the toy’s speaker with
tape to minimize noise. Anecdotally, parents have
reported covering speakers with non-toxic glue for the
same purpose.
c
b
Table 1. 2010 Sight and Hearing Association Noisy Toys List with dBA levels at 0 cm and 25 cm from open sound source
d
Fig 1. a) Open speaker of Road Rippers Rush and Rescue Firetruck,
b) Occluding speaker with Scotch® Shipping Packaging Tape,
c-d) Occluding speaker with Elmer’s School Glue®.
There was no statistical difference in noise level
between tape or glue. Tape can be easily applied and
the toy can be ready for use immediately. However,
parents should be cautioned that in young children, a
small piece of tape may be removed by the child and
has the low but real risk of serving as a choking
hazard. Glue offers a more permanent solution with
less risk of aerodigestive foreign body. In the set of
toys tested, placement of tape or glue did not seem to
alter the function of the toy. It is possible that in some
toys, the ventilation of the electronic components may
rely on the openings overlying the speaker outlet.
There are many common, commercially available toys
that produce electronic noises that are exceedingly
loud. Simple alterations to the toy with tape or glue
can significantly reduce the noise produced making
them safer for children. Further work is needed to
cooperate with toy manufacturers to create toys that
are quieter. Until then, this simple method may be
included as part of safety counseling of parents or
caregivers during normal well-child checks.
The purpose of this study is to empirically assess the
noise reduction impact of these simple measures—
applying tape or glue to the speakers—on a standard
group of toys.
a
The present study demonstrates that several common,
commercially available toys are exceedingly loud, with
A-weighted decibel levels of 83 to 122 at 0 cm and
65.3 to 107.3 at 25 cm. Covering the speaker of these
toys with tape or glue significantly reduces noise
exposure. Altering the speaker dropped the noise
exposure to between 60-85 dBA. When compared to
the unaltered toy, this is almost a 30 dB difference at 0
cm and about a 15 dB difference at 25 cm.
CONCLUSIONS
0 cm
25 cm
Fig 2. Mean dBA at 0cm and 25 cm for each
speaker position: open, taped, and glued. Error bars
represent 1 SD above and below mean.
Percentage of Toys Above 85 dBA
Methods: Sight & Hearing Association
2010 Noisy Toys List (n=18) toys were
tested at a distance of 0 cm and 25 cm
from the sound source in a soundproof
booth using a digital sound-level meter.
Toys with speakers (n=16) were tested
before and after covering the speakers
with plastic packing tape and non-toxic
glue.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
dBA
Objective: 1) To assess the noise level
of toys from the Sight & Hearing
Association 2010 Noisy Toys List.
2) To empiracially evaluate the change
in toy noise levels using two conditions:
covering the speakers with tape and
covering the speakers with glue.
RESULTS
INTRODUCTION
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Fig 3. Percentage of toys above 85 dBA at 0cm and 25cm
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