More calls for restaurants to turn down the noise that’s leaving some diners ‘exhausted’

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — If you’re a restaurant owner having trouble getting repeat customers, you might want to consider changing more than your menu.

Jennifer Zinetti, a dietitian in Victoria, is one of many hard-of-hearing diners making choices based on noise levels.

“Background noise that’s really loud, it would just be like fireworks going off in my ear,” she says.

The 45-year-old who has Meniere’s disease — which can cause pressure or pain in the ears and hearing loss — for more than seven years says she recently declined an invitation to a party at a restaurant where she knows having a conversation is difficult.

“If it’s a sports bar, yeah, forget it,” she says. “Large rooms –I try to avoid that.”

RELATED: Hearing loss expert says B.C. restaurant patrons leave early because of too much noise

Zinetti says some of the noisiest places are chain restaurants, like Earls, Cactus Club and Milestones.

She tells NEWS 1130 she would eat out more if dining rooms were more accommodating.

“Absolutely! Because I’m profoundly deaf in my right ear and I would be ecstatic to be able to not have anxiety around going out for dinner,” she says.

Grace Shyng, a hearing loss expert with the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, says it wouldn’t take much to improve acoustics.

“Turning down the music, you know, try to use more softer cushions, softer furniture, adding some carpeting –even area rugs will make a difference too,” she says.

Decibel levels at some dining rooms measure at 95, when anything higher than 85 can cause hearing loss.

Shyng, who’s the WIDHH’s Interim Executive Director, says many of her clients avoid places that end up leaving them feeling exhausted.

“You walk out the restaurant and go, ‘Wow. I didn’t realize how noisy that was.’ And you suddenly have this relief and that’s because your brains and your ears went through so much listening effort,” she says.

RELATED: WorkSafeBC warns of dangers linked to working in noisy bars and restaurants

Cactus Club, one operator also singled out by NEWS 1130 listeners as too noisy, has issued a statement maintaining music is an important part of the ‘unique atmosphere’ expected by patrons who appreciate ‘a vibrant and contemporary setting’.

Executives at that restaurant also stress improvements are based on customer feedback, so they encourage patrons to email them with any concerns or suggestions.

Zinetti says, at one point, she became really reclusive, but she’s managed to find some places in Victoria where she feels comfortable.

“The Keg is really good because they have these booths and they don’t have a lot of loud of music, but I’m 45. I’m young. Noise is really important for all people’s ears and even just the employees who work there,” she says.

In May, WorkSafeBC issued a safety bulletin reporting noise levels in restaurants often exceed safe limits and 10% of all Canadians are impacted by hearing loss.

The Vancouver-based Shyng, who’s also a clinical assistant professor at UBC, has this advice for restaurant owners seeking a high turnover rate.

“If people have to work to enjoy this meal, I don’t know if you’re going to get that many repeat customers. It’s kind of like when you go to grocery stores and you have to wait in line all the time to pay.”

She adds the Institute does workplace assessments and offers tips on how to make your space have a more acoustically accommodating ambiance.

There is an app called “SoundPrint” for iPhones that helps people find quiet restaurants.