Objective: Noise measurement and frequency analysis of commercially available noisy toys were the main purposes of the study.
Materials and Methods: 181 noisy toys commonly found in toy stores in different zones of Tehran were selected and categorized into 10 groups. Noise measurement were done at 2, 25, and 50 cm from toys in dBA. The noisiest toy of each group was frequency analyzed in octave bands.
Results: The highest and the lowest intensity levels belonged to the gun (mean=112 dBA and range of 100-127 dBA) and to the rattle-box (mean=84 dBA and range of 74-95 dBA), respectively. Noise intensity levels significantly decreased with increasing distance except for two toys. Noise frequency analysis indicated energy in effective hearing frequencies. Most of the toys energies were in the middle and high frequency region.
Conclusion: As intensity level of the toys is considerable, mostly more than 90 dBA, and also their energy exist in the middle and high frequency region, toys should be considered as a cause of the hearing impairment.