Noisy homes could be putting the mental development of babies at risk.
New research indicates that constant background noise may swamp an infant's brain, holding back its ability to recognise sounds.
The findings from the University of California at San Francisco might explain why language learning disorders have increased over the past few decades, it is claimed.
Modern homes are often filled with a cacophony of noise from blaring TVs and radios, to the rumble of traffic, jets flying overhead, as well as domestic machinery such as washing machines and fridges.