Two of the toys chosen for the Sight & Hearing Association's annual noisy toys study are so loud, they could cause hearing damage in less than seven minutes.

For the fifth year, the nonprofit organization and researchers from the University of Minnesota tested a variety of toys - taken right off the shelves of local toy stores - for potentially dangerous noise levels.

Five of the 11 toys tested blasted out louder than 100 decibels. The top two offenders, Cartoon Network's Scooby-Doo Telephone Book and The Home Depot Workman's Chainsaw, blared at 123 and 120 decibels (dB), respectively. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, that level nearly reaches the pain threshold of hearing.

"I was quite surprised by the results we got on how noisy those toys are," said Vu Ho, M.D., an otolaryngologist and resident at the University of Minnesota's department of otolaryngology who tested the toys. "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."

Because of a child's shorter arm span, toys are often potentially more dangerous because children hold them closer to their ears. In the Sight & Hearing Association study, the toys were tested at distances simulating how a child might hold the toy, directly near the ear (0 inches) and at arm's length (12 inches). A sound-proof booth was used to ensure an accurate recording.

Currently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission does not have regulations that address the loudness of toys. Another regulatory agency, the American Society of Testing and Materials, requires only that toys not exceed 138 dB when measured 25 cm from the surface of the toy. That is louder than a gunshot or a jet at take-off. Moreover, compliance with the standard is voluntary.

So, what should parents do? The Sight & Hearing Association offers the following tips:

Report a loud toy. Call the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the Sight & Hearing Association.

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