There are really two key issues with restaurant noise:  the annoyance factor of high noise levels and the barrier to social interaction.  The average noise levels of different types of restaurants vary, but usually range between 55 dB to 90+ dB.  Hearing someone speak in normal tones becomes impossible around 75 dB for normally hearing individuals.  For the hard of hearing, noise overpowers and adds distortion to conversation.  Hearing-impaired diners are looking for a quieter, more intimate option when dining, so that they may enjoy the social aspect of eating out.  Please post your comments below about your restaurant experiences with regard to ease of conversation or annoyance factor of noise.

There’s really two issues: the noise levels and the difficult communication impacting how you socialize. Noise is the second most common complaint of diners (second only to poor service). In a recent study, family-style restaurants were quieter than bar settings. The elegant, upscale restaurants were the quietest. Let me know what restaurants you hear best in and send a posting about a great restaurant hearing experience. I will spread the word! This will get the attention of restaurant owners when we patronize the quieter restaurants and send more customers that want to hear while they eat!