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Mahboubi H, Oliaei S, Badran KW, Ziai K, Chang J, Zardouz S, Shahriari S, Djalilian HR. Systematic Assessment of Noise Amplitude Generated by Toys Intended for Young Children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013; 148:1043-7. [DOI: 10.1177/0194599813482293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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. Study Design Experimental study. Setting Academic medical center. Subjects and 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. Conclusion 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Mahboubi
- Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Sepehr Oliaei
- Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Karam W. Badran
- Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Kasra Ziai
- Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Janice Chang
- Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Shawn Zardouz
- Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Shawn Shahriari
- Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Hamid R. Djalilian
- Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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Axelsson A, Jerson T, Lindberg U, Lindgren F. Early noise-induced hearing loss in teenage boys. SCANDINAVIAN AUDIOLOGY 1981; 10:91-6. [PMID: 7280546 DOI: 10.3109/01050398109076167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
A hearing examination of 538 teenage boys in vocational school classes--implying future on-the-job noise exposure--showed a hearing loss (greater than 20 dB HL at any frequency) in 15% of the cases. Few correlations could be demonstrated between hearing loss and specific leisure time activities. There was, however, a correlation between high frequency hearing loss in the left ear and hereditary hearing loss. The most affected frequency was 6 kHz, suggesting a noise etiology--a suggestion emphasized by the noisy hobbies of these teenagers. It cannot be excluded that a hereditary deficiency could either manifest itself as a localized dip at 6 kHz or reveal itself as an increased vulnerability to noise, identified at young age as a high frequency dip at 6 kHz.
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Bess FH, Powell RL. Hearing hazard from model airplanes. A study on their potential damaging effects to the auditory mechanism. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 1972; 11:621-4. [PMID: 5083928 DOI: 10.1177/000992287201101108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
An acoustic analysis of model airplane engine noise on hearing indicated that the dB(A) levels exceeded damage risk criteria for short-term exposure. Tem porary threshold shifts (TTS's) were also obtained in three subjects follow ing a brief exposure to the engine noise. All subjects were found to exhibit TTS's at frequencies above 1,000 Hz. These observations add further support to the recommendation that model airplane fliers should wear ear protection.
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