International research has shown that children under the age of six are much more sensitive to noise and can sustain acute cochlear damage far easier than in more mature people. The research undertaken by Stuart McLaren at Massey University Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health showed that in his study of 32 childhood centres more than 75 per cent of the children and just under 50 per cent of the staff were exposed to dangerous levels of noise. In both cases exceeded the maximum levels permitted in the workplace and peak level spikes exceeded 140dB, which equates to a jet plane taking off.

Adding to the above statistics, the latest survey results of the National Foundation for the Deaf, show 20 per cent of the children who were observed in 65 early childhood centres countrywide, had been affected by a high level of noise. What to do?