The noisiest restaurants are so loud, they may be damaging the hearing of waiters and other workers who put in full shifts during the dinnertime rush, says a small survey from UCSF researchers. The researchers said restaurant reviewers should warn the public about especially loud restaurants.
Many factors can make a restaurant noisier.
Hard surfaces, high ceilings, open kitchens, and large crowds all can contribute to a cacophony that makes simple conversation a struggle. According to Robert Sweetow, PhD, and director of the audiology clinic at UCSF, noise in these restaurants is not only annoying to diners who have sensitive ears or hearing problems, but it also can be harmful to the hearing of restaurant workers. They recorded weighted maximum noise levels, and also estimated the average noise exposure a waiter or other worker might get over an 8-hour period. When averaged over 8 hours, the exposures ranged from 50.5 decibels to 90 decibels. Continued exposure to noise at 85 dBA or more eventually can cause hearing loss, according to standards set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.