UNDER REVIEW

"A number of elements of the (laws) for toys that make or emit sound are under review, including the sound emission limit, the parameters used to assess sound emissions and the test methodology," Health Canada spokesman Paul Spendlove said.

The section of the Hazardous Products Act -- which was drafted when Pierre Trudeau was prime minister -- bans toys emitting noise levels exceeding 100 decibels. Audiologists say this level is too high.

A private members' bill, introduced by Winnipeg NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, would see the act revised to allow 75 decibels as the maximum level.

"I was floored to hear that so many toys on the market are way above what the World Health Organization recommends," Wasylycia-Leis said.

"It made me realize we've got a problem here in Canada and it shouldn't take too much to fix it."

"This bill will lead to the protection of the hearing health of millions of Canadian children," said Ondina Love, Association of Speech Language Pathologists spokeswoman.

A lot of hearing damage caused in childhood is preventable, said Ottawa audiologist Karyn Bursch. "We're putting hearing aids on younger and younger folks."

Health Canada's national consumer product safety program is reviewing the laws and their application, Spendlove said.

Any proposed changes to the law will be published for consultation with interested stakeholders.

"The current Canadian act permits a noise level which is potentially dangerous, because it does not take into account the typical use of toys," the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists said in a release.

A sound travelling in a child's ear canal will arrive at the eardrum at a greater intensity than in an adult's larger ear canal. The inner ear of a child is more sensitive to noise and might be susceptible to hearing loss for noise exposures that are safe for adults.

"Parents should be sure they're buying products in the appropriate range and they shouldn't be doing harm to their kids," Ottawa audiologist Rodney Taylor said.

ENFORCE STANDARDS

"Unfortunately, parents can't walk around with a sound level meter and see what's safe, that's why we have the government enforce some standards."

If you're wondering if a toy is too loud, put it up to your ear. If you're uncomfortable, it's too loud.

"If you have to raise your voice to talk over it, it's too loud," Bursch added.

"Just like we don't smoke in the car anymore, we shouldn't let children play with toys that we can't stand the volume of, or we have to talk louder to hear ourselves over. It's just a matter of education."

HEAR THAT?

Common sounds and their decibel levels:

- Normal conversation -- 50

- Vacuum -- 63-88

- Blow-dryer -- 70

- Telephone ringing -- 75

- Alarm clock -- 97

- Rock concert -- 105

- Balloon bursting -- 150

http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2008/05/29/5701591-sun.html