Toy gifts bought over the internet or in other countries may not meet Canadian noise laws and could risk damaging children's sensitive ears, audiologists warned Monday.

At a news conference on Parliament Hill, representatives of groups concerned with children's hearing appealed to parents to be aware of the dangers of loud toys during the coming holiday shopping season.

"If you have to raise your voice above the noise level of a toy to be heard, then the noise is too loud and could be causing damage to your child's hearing," said Chantal Lalonde of the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Health Canada limits the sound level from battery-powered toys to 100 decibels at arm's length — about what you'd be exposed to from a chainsaw or at a rock concert.

But the regulations don't necessarily protect children, said Dominic Leach of the Elks of Canada, since research shows kids don't use toys that way, often holding toys close to their faces.

As an example, the groups held up a toy called "Beach Bunny," a battery-powered rabbit brought over the border as a gift that sings of warm climes. Held close to the ear, its song would tip the decibel meter at 106.

To be heard above the bunny, speakers had to raise their voice above the typical level of typical conversation, about 65 decibels.

Audiologists recommend parents and gift-buyers do the following:

• Choose toys with an on/off button.
• Choose toys with a volume control.
• Limit playtime with noisy toys.
• Listen to the toy before making a purchase.
• Teach children the proper way to play with their toys.
• Encourage children to keep toys at arm's length.
• Purchase quiet toys such as books that target language and literacy skills.

Limit noise exposure to sensitive, young ears

Research has shown that children are especially vulnerable to hearing loss from loud sounds because their smaller ear canals allow the noise to hit their eardrums sooner and with more impact, said Lalonde.

Because children are exposed to loud sounds from a variety of sources, studies are needed on noise damage from toys in particular, Lalonde said.

Manufacturers and importers who bring toys into Canada are responsible for ensuring the toys meet Health Canada's guidelines, but those guidelines don't necessarily apply to toys bought in another country or over the internet.

Lalonde applauded the regulator for doing spot checks, but suggested the department could look at new testing methods given the variety of new toys on the market, such as toy cellphones.

An audiologists can check the decibel level of a toy should a parent or gift giver have a concern.

About one in 10 Canadians has speech, language, or hearing disorders that hinder their capacity to communicate, the audiologists group said.

The Elks is a service organization that funds programs for speech, hearing and communication disorders in children.