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Home YOU

Are the Toys You Buy Safe for Little Ears?

December 31, 2019
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by Michele Michaels
Kids love to play with toys, especially ones that make noise. Since noise is the number one cause of hearing loss, and nearly 15 percent of school-age children have some degree of hearing loss, it is important to be careful around loud toys. Too much noise can increase fatigue, decrease a child’s ability to pay attention, and reduce short-term memory.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says that 85 decibels (dB) is the maximum volume a child should be exposed to for no more than eight hours a day. Sounds louder than 100 dB can damage hearing in less than 15 minutes. The World Health Organization recommends no more than 75 dB for children.
There is a fine line between a safe sound level and a harmful level, and when purchasing toys for the little ones this holiday season it is important to know what’s what.
The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) investigated the sound safety of some of this season’s most popular toys. The sound of each toy was measured with a decibel meter placed at the speaker, as if the child placed their ear next to the speaker.
Here are the top 5 noisy toys listed in dB order:

  1. Basic Fun Galaga Mini Arcade, age 8+, 114.7 dB
  2. Disney Frozen II Microphone, age 3+, 114 dB
  3. Maxx Action Long Haul Vehicle Transport, age 3+, 111.9 dB
  4. Disney Frozen II or Lion King Sing-Along Boombox, age 3+, 108.8 dB
  5. B. Toys Woofer Hound Dog Guitar, age 2+, 106.2 dB

Parents should also consider how the child will use the toy. Children aren’t always using these toys at arm’s length as they are intended. The decibel levels of other sounds around the child in addition to the toy, such as the television, kids yelling, or other toys, can quickly add up and over time cause hearing loss.
For parents who would like to check the noise level of a toy before or after purchase, there are free smartphone apps (search for decibel meter) available to measure the sound levels.
Simple test methods to ensure toys won’t hurt young ears before you buy:

  • Use the try-me buttons on the toys in stores
  • Hold the toy as close to your ear as your child would and ask yourself if the toy is too loud
  • Hold the toy eight inches away from your ear (approximately the length of your child’s arm), and if you must shout above the sound effects it is too loud

How to keep the volume down on noisy toys:

  • If the toy has volume control, ensure it’s always set to the lowest level
  • Put tape over the speaker to mute it
  • Put tape over volume control to prevent your child from increasing to unsafe volume level

Fortunately, there are many safe volume level toys on the market.
Here are the top 5 safe toys listed by age:

  1. Leap Frog Butterfly Counting Pal, age Birth+
  2. Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Puppy, age 6 months+
  3. Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano, age 12 months+
  4. Little Tikes Touch ‘N Go Racers Police Car, age 2+
  5. DreamWorks She-Ra Princess of Power Sword & Shield Set, age 3+

Michele Michaels is the hearing healthcare program manager at the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, a statewide information referral center for issues related to people with hearing loss and leader in communication access, support services and community empowerment throughout the state.

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LOCAL NEWS: The Northern Arizona VA in Prescott has provided an update on their Homeless Veteran Program. . . .PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System’s Homeless Veteran Program, along with its community partners, housed 445 Veterans in 2022, exceeding their target goal by 157%.Nationally, the 2022 goal was to house 38,000 homeless Veterans— a goal that was exceeded by 6.3%. The Department of Veterans Affairs remains committed to ending Veteran homelessness and increasing housing placements is critical to achieving this goal.“This success is a result of efforts built on the evidence-based ‘Housing First’ approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then provides the Veteran with the support they need to stay housed,” said Steve Sample, Medical Center Director.In Northern Arizona, there are a variety of services designed to house homeless Veterans. The VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program includes VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers that provide formerly homeless Veterans with subsidized housing and a wraparound, interdisciplinary case management team to address issues that may have contributed to homelessness. The program provides justice outreach services, employment services, health care services through the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team, outreach, and transitional housing support. The VA also works closely with community partners to house homeless Veterans through a system called Coordinated Entry, where community agencies along with the VA regularly meet to coordinate efforts and ensure homeless Veterans do not fall through the cracks.“We are fortunate that there is so much support for helping homeless Veterans in our area,” said Jessica Taylor, Homeless Program Coordinator for the Northern Arizona VA. “This success could not have been possible without great collaboration between our community partners, Housing Authorities, Tribal partnerships, and support from our local communities.”Looking ahead, the VA will continue to explore new avenues to house homeless Veterans and overcome housing barriers. In collaboration with U.S VETS, Gorman & Company, and the Arizona Department of Housing, a supportive housing project on the grounds of the VA’s Fort Whipple campus is in the initial planning stages. The VA is also expanding outreach to ensure that homeless Veterans are aware of services available to them. For Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness— or if you know of homeless Veterans in need of assistance, call 877-424-3838.For more information on renting to or hiring homeless Veterans, visit: www.va.gov/homelessAbout the Northern Arizona VA: Through its main campus in Prescott, along with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Anthem— with additional clinics in Tuba City, Page, Kayenta, Chinle, Holbrook, and Polacca, the Northern Arizona VA provides services to approximately 33,000 Veterans over a catchment area of more than 65,000 square miles.. . .www.facebook.com/VAPrescott ... See MoreSee Less

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Empty Bowls of Prescott Arizona has announced that it will distribute $24,000 to local foodbanks! Their 2022 Empty Bowls fundraising event took place in September, and donations can be made year round on their website.prescott-empty-bowls.square.site ... See MoreSee Less

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