{"id":1014,"date":"2019-07-05T16:11:55","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T20:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlestonhearing.com\/?p=1014"},"modified":"2019-07-31T12:44:28","modified_gmt":"2019-07-31T16:44:28","slug":"are-noisy-restaurants-discriminatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hearingsc.com\/are-noisy-restaurants-discriminatory\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Noisy Restaurants Discriminatory?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most people take dining out for granted, but if you have hearing loss in Charleston<\/strong>, you are well aware of the difficulties involved in eating out at a restaurant.<\/p>\n

Others might contend with slow service or a chef who is a little heavy-handed with the salt, but for those with a hearing impairment, noise is the chief complaint.<\/p>\n

It can make an otherwise enjoyable experience downright unpleasant.<\/p>\n

It may<\/em> even be considered a type of discrimination<\/p>\n

How Noisy Backgrounds Affect the Hearing-Impaired<\/h2>\n

\"people<\/p>\n

Hearing loss<\/a> affects about one in five people in Charleston. That translates to 48 million people across the U.S.<\/p>\n

Approximately 90 percent benefit from hearing aids, which amplify sounds so they can hear better and communicate more effectively.<\/p>\n

But in situations where background noise is prevalent, they are unable of separating noise sources, making it all but impossible for hearing-impaired individuals to concentrate.<\/p>\n

Restaurants are notorious for their noise levels.<\/p>\n

People are technically protected under the\u00a0Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act<\/a>, which states that all places of public accommodation, including restaurants, must accommodate people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s unclear whether hearing loss is considered a disability; opinions vary depending on whom you ask.<\/p>\n

Thus, most diners with hearing loss have few options other than asking for a quieter table or requesting that the music be turned down.<\/p>\n

Management isn\u2019t always willing or able to grant these requests, however.<\/p>\n

Explains Ashok Bajaj, owner of a Washington, D.C. restaurant called Rasika, \u201cWhen you go to a restaurant, you are dining with others; you are not just dining by yourself.<\/p>\n

Diners have to be mindful that, if you go into a restaurant with 100 seats, it is going to be noisy no matter what you do.<\/p>\n

Sometimes you get a loud table, and there is nothing you can control about it.<\/p>\n

We accommodate our guests the best we can. It is difficult for the restaurant to please everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

Restaurants are noisy even for diners with normal hearing.<\/p>\n

Noise levels average 75-85 decibels and in some cases, exceed 95 decibels \u2013 a noise level on par with that of a lawnmower.<\/p>\n

At that level, hearing loss can occur in about an hour, so you\u2019d better wolf down that linguini or get it to go!<\/p>\n

Poor acoustics, loud music, open kitchens and crowded tables all contribute to these noise levels.<\/p>\n

Not only is it hard for people to enjoy a peaceful meal in noisy restaurants, but they also contribute to the ongoing problem of hearing loss and can negatively affect those with related hearing disorders such as tinnitus<\/a> and hyperacusis.<\/p>\n

Options for Diners<\/h2>\n

When it comes to the law, the disability-rights aspect of noise is evolving.<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t simply call the police because your favorite restaurant won\u2019t turn down the music, so you\u2019re pretty much left with filing a noise complaint or going one step further and bringing a civil lawsuit against the establishment, but few people are going to go to that much trouble.<\/p>\n

The Department of Justice freely admits that most of their enforcement efforts concern wheelchair-accessibility issues.<\/p>\n

Individuals with hearing loss in Charlesto<\/strong>n have a few options that can improve their dining experience.<\/p>\n

Smartphone apps like Soundprint<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0iHEARu<\/a> collect information on noise levels in local restaurants, allowing you to choose a quieter spot.<\/p>\n

Online review sites such as Yelp can also prove helpful.<\/p>\n

Try dining during off-peak hours and, when making reservations, ask for a quiet table in the corner. If all else fails, get your food to go.<\/p>\n

For more information on overcoming hearing loss in noisy situations, reach out to your Charleston audiologist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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