Twenty Thousand Hertz

Noise “R” Us: The evolution of noisy toys

Feb 19, 2020
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ANECDOTE

Tickle Me Elmo Craze

  • Chris Byrne was the first to show Tickle Me Elmo on national TV, sparking a huge toy craze.
  • A man once offered him $500 for it at the New Orleans airport, showing the toy's massive buzz.
INSIGHT

Children's Ear Sensitivity

  • Children's inner ear structures are fully developed at birth but have a limited number of sensitive hair cells.
  • Damage to these cells from loud noise is permanent and accumulates over time, affecting hearing later in life.
ANECDOTE

Child Testing Toy Volume

  • Dr. Hamid Djalilian witnessed a child holding a toy up to his ear repeatedly to hear the noise.
  • He realized this common behavior could be harmful due to the loud volume of many toys in stores.
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