By Katie Koebel
A great restaurant experience is about more than what’s on the plate; guests come to connect with friends and family, celebrate milestones, and enjoy each other’s company. But when background music, clattering dishes, and conversations from nearby tables compete for attention, following along to your own conversation becomes challenging.
For people already experiencing hearing difficulties, a busy, noisy dining room can make something as simple as hearing the evening specials more challenging. And for restaurant operators, the impact may extend beyond guest comfort to how customers perceive, spend, and plan their next visit.
Your customers may be struggling
Hearing difficulties affect a significant number of the population. According to Statistics Canada’s, more than 1.6 million Canadians aged 15 and older live with a diagnosed hearing disability that limits their daily activities.
Hearing impairment also increases with age: 13.6 per cent of Canadians aged 65 and older and 18.7 people aged 75 and older are experiencing hearing disabilities.
These numbers are worth keeping in mind for restaurants invested in their guest’s experience. A dining room that sounds energetic to one person may make another feel drained just trying to talk to the people a t their table.
When restaurant noise impacts revenue
Research suggests that excessive restaurant noise may influence more than just conversation. A study published in Scientific Reports examined older adults with and without hearing loss in simulated restaurant environments. Researchers found that participants’ willingness to spend money declined by four per cent once ambient noise exceeded 52.5 decibels (dB). Some participants even reported being willing to spend less than 25 per cent of their initial budget if ambient noise exceeded 62 dB.
While these figures are not universal thresholds, they highlight that the sound environment can influence how comfortable people feel spending both their time and money.
The same study found that background noise below 50 dB helped older participants minimize vocal strain and maximize speech comprehension, including those with moderate-to-severe hearing difficulties.
Noisy restaurants get even noisier
A natural human response, known as the Lombard effect, happens when people involuntarily raise their voices as background sound increases. Research has found that when ambient sound exceeds approximately 40-50 dB, vocal loudness can increase by approximately 0.3-0.6 dB for each additional decibel of background noise.
In a restaurant, this is not uncommon. One table starts talking louder, then neighbouring diners do the same, and the overall sound level keeps climbing.
Separating one conversation from all these competing sounds can become even more challenging for those already experiencing hearing loss.
What diners can do when conversation becomes difficult
Diners who experience hearing loss, amplified in busy restaurants, can take a few practical steps to make the experience more comfortable.
- Consider requesting a table farther from noise sources (e.g., speakers, the kitchen, bar areas).
- Visit during less busy periods may also provide a quieter environment.
- Position yourself so you can see your dining companions, as they can provide helpful visual cues during conversation.
Missing the occasional word in a loud restaurant can happen to anyone. But if struggling to follow conversations in busy spaces, at family gatherings and in other noisy environments is becoming common, consider speaking with a hearing care professional about what you’re experiencing.
If you use hearing aids and continue to find restaurants particularly challenging, consider discussing those situations with your hearing care professional, who can tailor your hearing care needs accordingly.
What can restaurant operators do?
Restaurant operators have a unique opportunity to consider sound as part of the overall customer experience. Potential solutions to consider involve:
- Reviewing the volume and placement of background music.
- Offering tables farther from speakers or other noisy areas.
- Considering acoustics during renovations and restaurant redesigns.
According to the World Health Organization’s guidelines for safe listening venues and events recommends incorporating sound-absorbing materials, including acoustic panels, drapery, and soft furnishings, across at least 20 per cent of the total wall and ceiling surface area to help control reverberation. While these guidelines are not restaurant-specific, they illustrate how thoughtful design can help prevent sound from compounding within a space.
Closing thoughts
Hospitality, at its core, is about making guests feel comfortable and welcome. For the millions of Canadians living with hearing limitations, the ability to hear the specials and enjoy a conversation without struggling to keep up can make the dining experience that much more enjoyable.
By considering sound and atmosphere alongside food and service, restaurants have another opportunity to create an experience guests will want to return to.
Katie Koebel, M.Cl.Sc., Reg. CASLPO is an audiologist and Senior Manager of Audiology at HearingLife, Canada’s largest group of hearing centres with over 350 locations across the country. HearingLife clinics use the most advanced hearing aid technology, clinical support, and diagnostic equipment. Katie is an Audiologist registered with CASLPO and has been providing her clients with the best possible hearing health care with HearingLife for over 17 years.
If you’re at high risk of hearing damage, it is advisable to have your hearing checked regularly and advocate for proper hearing protection in your workplace. For more information on different types of hearing loss and educational resources, visit a hearing clinic near you.
Disclaimer: This is not professional medical advice. Please consult a hearing care professional to address your unique needs.
