LtCol Carolyn Bennett
Hill AFB, UT
Not just loud music but some toys are hazardous to your child’s hearing. Many of youth’s enjoyable activities are putting them at risk for acoustically induced hearing loss. Boom boxes, stereo headphones, firecrackers and even toys for preschoolers result in exposure to noise levels above 85dBA. Any noise above 84dBA is considered hazardous in the workplace! Studies of teenagers’ personal stereos found they are used at levels between 102-104dBA. The AF would not allow you to be exposed to 104dBA without hearing protection for more than 3 minutes! Toy robots and cars emit noise at levels between 82 and 100 dBA. Toy sirens and drills measure between 74 and 102 dBA (Maximum allowable exposure at work in 102dB noise is less than 8 minutes), squeaky toys are measured between 78 and 100dBA, firecrackers 125-156 dBA and toy pistols in excess of 150 dBA. Toy pistols and firecrackers are louder than jet aircraft on take-off! This level is above the threshold of pain!
According to Dr. Snow of the National Institute of Deafness and Communicative Disorders, the most important message that we give our children is that noise or acoustically-induced hearing loss can begin in childhood, much earlier than originally thought. We must teach our children to recognize the warning signs of hearing loss including diminution of hearing or fullness in the ears and tinnitus or ringing in the ears. Recognizing the symptoms is not enough; we must teach our children to prevent acoustically induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is 100% preventable. One of the best methods of teaching is by example. When you or your child work on the car, use the lawn mower or leaf blower, use hearing protection. When using electric saws or sanders wear ear protection. When you go hunting, wear “hunters” earplugs. The rule of thumb to know if noise is hazardous–if you have to raise your voice at a distance of one foot from your listener or shout at a distance of 3 feet, the noise is hazardous.