Noisy people

My hearing aids link to my phone and quite often the decibel alert comes up in public places like cafes, meaning that the noise level will now damage hearing.

The cinema almost always creates an alert, regardless of the film. The swimming baths even with the aids out and in a case. Even the library the other day in the children’s section.😱

I can’t see how anybody avoids hearing damage. And, of course, lots of people dont realise their hearing is poor and so up the volume.

I usually meet up with a group of friends in Greggs .
It's cheap and cheerful .
We have a really lovely time until the young mums arrive.
It is complete and utter chaos .
Their babies and children scream and shout and run all round the cafe whilst their mothers either talk to their friends or are glued to their phones or both .
We all long to say something - but don't.
It's hell at home when my neighbour has her grandkids during the school holidays .
They are in the garden all day and they are deafening.
She looks absolutely worn out .
I used to sit in the garden and read or paint now I sit indoors windows shut .
Even my local library is noisy .
I was told not to annoy or disturb other people and I read a similar riot act to my kids .
It just isn't the fashion these days .
It seems to be the thing to be as loud as possible.

Esmay do you think it's less usual to have children out in the gardens these days so they tend to get pretty excited?

I know just what you mean.
In any restaurant or cafe, without fail, there’s always one person with a voice which carries, so much so that I find myself reluctantly listening to her (it usually is a woman!) rather than the person I’m with.
Usually the loud woman’s companion can’t get a word in edge ways!

Am not keen on overly noisy people in restaurants or cafes, or music played in the background which is too loud for normal conversation.
But one thing I really can’t stand is the way sone people use the ‘F’ word in every sentence, not in anger as a swear word but just peppered through ordinary conversation.
Is a horrible habit.

I so agree about the F-word. When I hear it, I say, without looking directly at that person, "Please mind my earshot."
Quite often, people say sorry, sometimes "Sorry miss." I haven't lost my teacher's voice.

I rarely go where there are many people nowadays. I cant bear the noise and the crowds. When Im at home and not expecting anyone I put my headphones on and an atom bomb could drop outside. Not interested.

I was out to lunch with a friend the other day in a small local eatery and the noise coming from the table next to us was unbelievable, four women ,all talking at once . We had to go because no conversation was possible. As we left our waitress said ‘I don’t blame you leaving, the staff keep hiding in the kitchen as they are being deafened’. What can it be like in their homes?

I notice that in Europe people ( friends etc) tend to stand closer to each other than we do here. Maybe population density or background noise from others, I don’t know. I can’t stand hearing loud one way phone conversations, especially on trains. I only go on trains rarely now, horrible experience.

Esmay, with you on this. Although I will move seats if I sit sonewhere and find the noise too much. I used to like catching conversations but I find people' chats are very boring, lots of clichés and "like" used too much. I must be getting grumpy

The other thing I hate is why do restaurants now insist on loud music everywhere? Both my friend and I are hard-of- hearing and it's a nightmare trying to find a place to sit and have a quiet meal/ drink anymore, without your ears being assaulted with loud music. We have both noticed it really ramped up after Covid. I agree with other posters re loud conversations, and children now seem to have no volume control and sorry to say but I really don't remember this level of noise when I was younger. My friend had a theory that children now are louder,as parents are glued to their phones and the child is desperate for attention. Does she have a point?

The loud music in places and also nearly every pub has multiple tv's blaring sports of one kind or another. I wonder how much custom that loses them as I would not choose to go there now.
Yes children screaming is another thing that seems to of got worse, three houses near us have youngsters (luckily two lots are grandchildren that go home by late afternoon) who are screeching away from the minute they arrive. Why do the adults let them do it?

I always wonder about the folk who drive around with music booming out of their cars, especially with young children in them. The school run past here is like a disco at times! What damage they must be doing to their hearing.

I've noticed how loud and screechy children are at my leisure club, both running around in the restaurant area, and screeching in shower cubicles after swimming. It was SO bad the other day in the cubicles I made a loud shhhh sound and they all stopped immediately. If the parents don't tell them to quieten down in public places, it's not unreasonable for people affected by the noise to tell them.

I always find cinemas incredibly loud. I become adjusted to it during the film, but it feels as if it must be at a hearing-damaging level. There must be a reason for it; does anyone know?

I would agree with you about the Library. We were there the other day waiting for it to close in order to prepare it for a meeting that evening. Three primary age brothers were there, racing about and shouting as their parents watched fondly. I think they believed, because of all the activities laid out, Lego, construction kits, soft toys and puzzles, that it was some form of children's playground. Not one looked at a book, and that includes the parents.. We are fighting to keep this library open, but sometimes I wonder if it is worth it.

Dear Jennifer Eccles...Unlike you I find its usually a Man speaking at the top of his voice. We eat out most Sundays at a lovely restaurant/pub, but there always seems to a man believing the world is in awe of him as he conducts his conversation with friends, I have restrain myself from saying "Oh will you please shut-up, we are NOT all interested in what you have to say. Most of the people with him usually look bored to death too. I must admit US men are usually worse than British but not by much.

You are entitled to ask for music to be turned down:
While there isn't a specific right to have loud music turned down in a restaurant, your rights are protected by disability discrimination legislation, meaning the restaurant must provide "reasonable adjustments" to ensure you can access their services. You have the right to request a quieter table, a change in seating, or for the manager to adjust the music volume to a reasonable level.
Understanding Your Rights
Disability Discrimination: Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for a business to discriminate against someone with a protected characteristic, which includes a disability like hearing loss.
Reasonable Adjustments: Restaurants are required to make reasonable adjustments to their policies, practices, and the physical environment to ensure disabled customers can access their services.

I agree, restaurants, cinemas, Cafes, children, even libraries are noisier than they used to be. I realize also that as I'm getting older peace and quiet is so necessary for my well being. The sound of bird song is enough..

It’s dreadful. I have hearing aids and really only use them at home or in a fairly quiet environment. Cafes, supermarkets, even cinemas are awful. People don’t respect other people. A group of women two rows behind us at the cinema, had a conversation throughout the entire film.

The F word is commonplace in everyday conversation.

I hate it. Glad I’m old!!

Me too. We thought we would call fir a coffee in our " big" M&S. They have two restaurants but the one downstairs was closed so everyone used the upstairs one.
Just one look in convinced that it wasn't a good idea, was like a "cattle market"(Derbyshire saying). The noise, so much for a quiet coffee 🥴. We moved on😁

On holiday at the moment and the pool is dominated by a large group of British men throwing a ball to each other and talking/shouting at the tops of their voices, same in the breakfast room. I think they are here to play golf, so I hope they clear off soon.

Recently in a café a young child was screaming and crying. The parents were both on their phones paying no attention to the child. All around them people were looking unconformable. The staff could see this but were powerless to do anything. Several people got up and left, one told the waitress to cancel their order as they simply would not put up with the noise. It seems that some parents these days do not consider it necessary to consider the effect their child's behaviour has on others.

Even for those without hearing aids, as we get older our hearing tends to become poorer, but at the same time our ears become over sensitive to loud noises.

I asked AI why this is and it said -

"Noise can annoy older people more due to natural age-related changes in the brain's ability to filter sounds and the ears' ability to process them, leading to increased sensitivity and difficulty ignoring background noise. Other factors include a decrease in overall tolerance for disruption, potential fatigue, and the emotional toll that constant overstimulation can take, which can lead to stress, anxiety, and a greater desire for quiet.

In my forties, we lived next to a railway line for years and we only ever heard the night train which stopped outside with the engine running. The rest was blotted out like the ticking of a clock.

We have new neighbours with a lot of children. Over the holidays they screamed constantly. If ever they were in real trouble no- one would take any notice. Also very noisy in cafes. There is a group of us who go for coffee, and I am sorry to say one of our group is very loud, but no-one knows how to tell her without upsetting her.