Are your kids' toys causing hearing damage?

Came across an article in this month's Parents Magazine that raises an excellent point about toy safety:

Hear This
Toys that beep or play music may pose a serious health hazard to your child, say researchers at University of California, Irvine.  They measured ten of the loudest most popular toys and found that all can exceed 90 decibels, a level that can lead to hearing damage over time.  Several were as loud as a chain saw when held close to the ear.  "Children are more sensitive to loud high pitched noises," says physician and researcher Hamid Djalilian, MD, director of the university's Hearing and Balance Center.  Toys with sound should be less than 85 decibels when held 20 inches away from the ear - but kids rarely hold them that far away.  Put non-toxic glue or heavy-duty masking tape (with glued down edges) over a toy's speaker to muffle the sound.  When shopping for toys place them against your ear: If it hurts, it's too loud. 

For more information visit the Sight & Hearing Association's list of noisy toys, updated annually to include the worst offenders, or the World Against Toys Causing Harm website: toysafety.org.