Some of this year’s best-selling Christmas toys are so loud they could seriously damage a child’s hearing, a medical charity claimed yesterday.
Almost all the toys tested by Deafness Research UK generated noises louder than the recommended health and safety levels when held close to the ear.
Half the 15 toys tested had levels above, or close to, the recommended safety levels when held 25 cm away, the charity said.
The most dangerous were toy guns - including an old fashioned cap gun - which had the potential to cause “instant hearing loss”, it said.
Deafness Research UK stressed that none of the toy manufacturers was breaking the law, but urged parents to be on their guard when buying noisy toys.
However, the toy industry said the report gave a “distorted view” of safety guidelines. All the toys sold in Britain through reputable stores met tough European standards, it said.
The charity asked Dr Brad Backus from University College London’s Ear Institute to test 15 toys on sale this Christmas. Prolonged exposure to anything above 85 decibels can damage hearing.
Fourteen of the 15 toys were found to have average noise levels of between 84dB and 115dB when held 2.5cm away from a microphone, Dr Backus said.
They included Fisher Price’s Dance Baby Dance play centre and Tomy’s 'Spin 'n’ Sound’ remote-controlled car. Other toys tested included programmable cars, ray guns and electronic musical instruments.
Just one, a VTech mobile phone for babies, had a noise level below the European safety threshold. The toys included Mattel’s Fast Talkin’ Lightning McQueen programmable car.
At 25cms, it had a sound level of 82.5dB - just below the safety maximum. When tested at 25cm - roughly a child’s arm length - eight out of the 15 toys had average levels ranging from 81dB to 105dB.
The toy guns, from Smiffy’s, were found to have peak noise levels of between 130db and 143dB at 2.5cm, and of between 120 to 140dB at 25cm.
According to Dr Backus that is enough to cause serious damage to a child’s hearing and could cause instant hearing loss.
“Children’s toys clearly have the potential to do harm to their hearing so it’s important that people are aware of the dangers and what to do about them,” said Dr Backus.
“With most of the toys we tested there is a potential for harm but they’re safe if used sensibly.
“With most toys, your child will only damage their hearing if they use them too often and for too long a duration, or if they stick them in their ear.
Telegraph
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