Hooray for a captioned performance, or so I thought…
I was genuinely thrilled to visit the cinema after a long time.
Why?
The lack of captioned performances aligning with my free time to enjoy the experience with friends or family has kept me away. Captions are crucial for me as a profoundly deaf individual because of the significant dialogue that occurs off-screen in films.
However, my recent cinema experience left much to be desired:
While it was a relief to have captions available, my excitement turned to disappointment when I raised concerns about the excessive volume. The staff’s response was unimpressive. They showed a complete lack of understanding regarding the challenges faced by those with hearing loss and the potential harm of subjecting the audience to prolonged loud noise.
The trailers and the film itself reached an ear-splitting 95 -115 dB. This was a discomforting level for me as I have no hearing above this threshold without my hearing devices. I found myself grappling with not just the loud noise but also the vibrations it created.
I am frustrated that cinemas are permitted to exhibit films at volumes exceeding 90 dB. This is a serious concern given the known risks of hearing damage associated with prolonged exposure to loud volumes. The film had at some lengthy sections sounds reaching as high as 115 dB.
Justification for loud volumes?
It certainly did not enhanced our cinematic experience. It made the film extremely unpleasant. Even my hearing husband, who typically enjoys sound was taken aback by the excessive volume. Especially when it reached beyond 115 dB. Both of us left with headaches and earaches.
We’ve decided not to return to @Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, York until they address this issue.
Exposing children and adults to such high volumes for up to two hours poses a serious risk of ear damage, increasing the likelihood of developing tinnitus—a condition not easily managed.
Importance of Prevention:
Considering that World Hearing Day has just passed, it’s crucial that we take responsibility and prevent hearing loss by dialing down the volumes. There’s already mounting evidence of teenagers experiencing hearing loss due to sustained noises from electronic games played with earphones. The film industry too must shoulder the responsibility of maintaining noise levels within acceptable limits.
With your help we can collectively promote preventive measures for hearing loss by encouraging cinemas to have their sound levels comply within acceptable safe limits. We already have more than enough exposure to loud noises from other sources e.g. Shops, bars and restaurants.
Prevention is key- let venues know the harm they are creating to people’s hearing and experiences. Or refer them to our deaf awareness training that will help them to understand and implement techniques and technology that are inclusive of their customers.
Leave a Reply