title: Systematic assessment of noise amplitude generated by toys intended for young children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically evaluate the noise generated by toys targeted for children and to compare the results over the course of 4 consecutive holiday shopping seasons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2008-2011, more than 200 toys marketed for children older than 6 months were screened for loudness. The toys with sound output of more than 80 dBA at speaker level were retested in a soundproof audiometry booth. The generated sound amplitude of each toy was measured at speaker level and at 30 cm away from the speaker.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety different toys were analyzed. The mean (SD) noise amplitude was 100 (8) dBA (range, 80-121 dBA) at the speaker level and 80 (11) dBA (range, 60-109 dBA) at 30 cm away from the speaker. Eighty-eight (98%) had more than an 85-dBA noise amplitude at speaker level, whereas 19 (26%) had more than an 85-dBA noise amplitude at a 30-cm distance. Only the mean noise amplitude at 30 cm significantly declined during the studied period (P < .001). There was no significant difference in mean noise amplitude of different toys specified for different age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate the persistence of extremely loud toys marketed for very young children. Acoustic trauma from toys remains a potential risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss in this age group, warranting promotion of public awareness and regulatory considerations for manufacture and marketing of toys.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahboubi
authors.forename: Sepehr
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliaei
authors.forename: Karam W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Badran
authors.forename: Kasra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ziai
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zardouz
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahriari
authors.forename: Hamid R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Djalilian
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002140:California; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: acoustic trauma; noise-induced hearing loss; pediatric noise exposure; sensorineural hearing loss; toys