As we wend our way through prime toy season, it’s worth remembering that many sound-enabled toys can permanently damage children’s hearing. The Sight & Hearing Association in the U. S. reminds us that “Because of a child’s shorter arm span, toys are often potentially more dangerous to hearing because children hold them closer to their ears.” While there is an acoustics standard for toys, manufacturers are not required to comply with the standard.
To help parents make smart choices, the Association has published their annual Noisy Toy List, which includes The Wiggles Wiggly Jukebox, the Dora the Explorer Talking Vamanos Van, and The Home Depot Light & Sound Air Wrench. Deafness Research UK also found dangerous noise levels in many toys, noting “The most dangerous toys by far were found to be toy guns.” One more reason not to buy fake firearms for your kids.
I’ve found that putting clear packing tape over the speakers of toys may help muffle the sound. Lifehacker also has tips on how to disable toy speakers with a little internal surgery involving a screwdriver and wire cutters.