Noisiest toys of season named
The list, published by the Sight & Hearing Association, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, includes toys that top 90 dB in noise level tests performed by researchers at the University of Minnesota. The toys listed are recommended by their manufacturers for children aged 1-5 years old.
"I was so surprised by these results," says Seth Janus from the University of Minnesota's Department of Otolaryngology, who tested the toys. "All these toys are meant for young kids and they are incredibly loud. It is well known that loud noise exposure is harmful and results in hearing loss. It is even more worrisome when young children are exposed to loud noise because the damage is cumulative and irreversible."
Here are the 11 toys emitting hazardous noise, as listed by the Sight & Hearing Association:
| Toy | dB at 0 inches/0 cm | dB at 12 inches/30 cm |
| Barney "Songs" | 115 | 87 |
| Home Depot Workman's Screwdriver | 112 | 96 |
| See 'N Say Barnyard Banjo | 110 | 92 |
| Fun Years Music Sing-A-Long Electronic Guitar | 109 | 94 |
| Kool toyz Talk 'N Learn Keyboard | 107 | 91 |
| Light and Sound Lawn Mower Power Tool | 107 | 87 |
| The Wiggles Musical Guitar | 107 | 91 |
| Barney Bend-a-Tune Trumpet | 104 | 80 |
| Leap Frog Alphabet Pal | 102 | 84 |
| Light 'N Sound Popping Piano | 99 | 88 |
| Little People Mixie the Cement Truck | 98 | 79 |
Source: The Hearing Review, December 2003