Hearing loss from a bicycle horn.
A 39-month-old child with previously documented normal hearing suffered acoustic trauma from a bicycle horn activated at his ear. Six days after the insult, a 4000-Hz 50-dB sensorineural hearing loss was found. This threshold improved to 30 dB HL over 6 months. The horn produces 143 dB peak SPL, a level clearly associated with a high risk for hair cell damage. This case shows the need for regulations limiting sound levels or requiring warning labels on potentially damaging toys and other recreational devices. Had a warning been provided, the parents of this child would not have bought the horn as a toy.
McMillan
P M
PM
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor 48109-0312.
Kileny
P R
PR
D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001642:Bicycling; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors