We are just days away from Santa delivering presents to all the good boys and girls, but before your child makes their final Christmas list, make sure you take a look at the top 20 toys in 2011 that can cause hearing loss.
The list below was compiled by the Sight and Hearing Association. They found the top offender on this year to be, Disney Cars 2 Shake N Go Finn McMissile, which was recorded at a blaring 124 dB! That’s loud enough to risk hearing damage instantly. A book came in second place, meant for an 18-month-old, topped 118 dB, which poses a risk in less than 1 minute. Exposure to noise levels above 85 dB for eight hours is the federal threshold for hearing protection. Levels above 90 dB can cause permanent hearing loss with relatively short exposure.
Noisy Toy – Top Offenders 2011
1. Disney Cars 2 Shake ‘N Go! Finn McMissile, Fisher-Price, Inc. (124 dB)
2. Disney Princess Play-a-Sound Follow Your Dreams, Publications Intl, Ltd. (118 dB)
3. Hot Wheels Super Stunt Rat Bomb, Toy Quest (116 dB)
4. Disney Cars 2 Shake ‘N Go! Professor Z, Fisher-Price, Inc. (114.1 dB)
5. Toys Story 3 Matchbox Garbage Truck, Mattel, Inc. (113.2 dB)
6. Combat Rangers MP5 Tactical Force Rifle, Kidz Toyz, Inc. (112 dB)
7. Sesame Street Play-a-Song Move to the Music, Publications Intl, Ltd. (111.8 dB)
8. Sesame Street Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures Treasure Hunt, Publications Intl (110.8 dB)
9. Sid the Science Kid Gotta Know Microphone, Hasbro (110 dB)
10. Sesame Street Let’s Rock Elmo Guitar, Hasbro (109.5 dB)
11. The Home Depot Deluxe Power Chainsaw, Geoffrey, Inc. (109.2 dB)
12. Disney Pixar Toy Story 3 Big Roarin’ Rex, Fisher-Price, Inc. (108.5 dB)
13. CAT Honk & Rumble Wheel, Publications Intl, Ltd. (107.7 dB)
14. Disney Pixar Cars Play-a-Song Radiator Springs Sings, Publications Intl, Ltd. (106.4 dB)
15. Tonka Toughest Minis (fire/police), Funrise Toy Corp. (106.1 dB)
16. CAT Press & Roll Machines, Toy State Industrial Ltd. (105.2 dB)
17. Black & Decker Junior Chainsaw, Creative Designs Intl, Ltd. (103.6 dB)
18. Road Rippers Rush & Rescue Helicopter, Toy State Industrial Ltd. (103.2 dB)
19. Star Wars Talking Plush clip-on Darth Vader, Underground Toys (100.1 dB)
20. Dora Tunes Microphone, Fisher-Price, Inc. ( 99.5 dB)
Remember that noise induced hearing loss is cumulative, so the more preventative steps you can take, the better for your child. Below is a list of ways that you can help protect your child from loud toys this holiday season:
• Listen to a toy before you purchase it, if it sounds loud to you, it’s too loud for your child.
• Put masking or packing tape over the speaker on the toy to reduce the volume.
• Report a loud toy to the Consumer Product Safety Commission