(Rockville, MD - December 9, 2007) As consumers snap up electronic toys as gifts for all ages, another, very real danger is being overlooked, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
To date, this health threat has been largely unaddressed as news reports have focused on the lead content of toys, and other concerns.
In the November 20, 2007 news release of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC Delivers the ABC's of Toy Safety"), hearing damage from noisy toys or electronic devices is completely absent from the list of dangers to children. Yet electronics are among the fastest-growing segment of the toy market, and are being marketed to younger and younger children (see ABC News "Toddlers Go High-Tech" http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3933565&affil=wjla).
"The risk of hearing loss by increasingly young children is not one we can afford to overlook. Damaged hearing can have a profound negative effect on children's learning and social development. We must give adults the information they need to safeguard our children," according to Noma Anderson, PhD, president of ASHA.
Loud toys and personal listening technologies that aren't used safely pose a threat to ears of all ages. Once damaged, ears do not heal. For children, hearing loss can also lead to other problems, including difficulties in academic and social development.
As younger and younger children are asking for—and receiving—electronic toys and music devices like MP3s and iPods, it is critical that parents learn how to protect their children's hearing and teach them safe listening habits.
Here are simple guidelines from the audiologists and hearing scientists of ASHA:
How to Enjoy Noisy Toys and Electronic Devices Safely
- If you must raise your voice to be heard, the sound is loud enough to damage hearing.
- When evaluating toys for small children, bear in mind that their arms are short and they tend to hold toys close to their face, making noises even louder.
- If you can hear music from someone else's earphones three feet away, it's too loud.
- Give your ears a break from continuous listening.
- Upgrade headphones so that they isolate music from background noise. Lower volumes can then be used.
- Set volume limiters before allowing children to use electronic items.
- www.listentoyourbuds.org is a fun website created by hearing experts and educators with video games for kids, and information for teachers, parents and reporters to learn about hearing safety. The site is also available in Spanish.
How to Recognize Hearing Loss in Children
- Frequently misunderstands what is said and want things repeated
- Difficulty following verbal instructions
- Turns up the volume of the television, radio, or stereo
- Difficulty listening or paying attention when there is noise in the background
- Trouble identifying and/or localizing sounds
- Reading, spelling, and other academic problems
- Feelings of isolation, exclusion, annoyance, embarrassment, confusion, and helplessness
- Behavior problems
- Pulling or scratching at ears
- A history of three or more ear infections
- If you suspect hearing loss, seek the care and advice of a certified audiologist.
- www.asha.org offers referrals and additional materials on hearing loss, including video of how sound is processed by ear (and damaged hair cells) at http://www.asha.org/about/news/convention06/1106animationEar.htm.
About ASHA
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 127,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders. For more information on noise and hearing loss or other communication disorders, visit ASHA's Web site or call 1-800-638-8255 (TALK).
About the Listen To Your Buds Campaign
ASHA's Listen to Your Buds campaign is supported by the Consumer Electronics Association, Arlington, Virginia; Califone International, Inc., San Fernando, California; Pause Parent Play, Washington, D.C.; Unwired Technologies of New York, and the rock group, O.A.R.
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