Julie Raney is a certified and licensed audiologist. She has a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Audiology from Idaho State University. She has worked as a clinical audiologist in Colorado since 2005. She specializes in hearing amplification for adults and delivers her services in both English and Sign Language.

Latest posts by Julie Raney (see all)

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As you settle into the soft chairs, with soft drink and popcorn in hand there truly is nothing like the joy of attending a movie in the theater—the way it was intended to be viewed. There is always a sense of anticipation and joy as the lights go down and you along with the other theater goers prepare to go on a journey with the film makers, the actors, the musicians, and everyone who has contributed to the collaborative effort of film making.

However, it’s important to understand the risks too. What could be damaging about attending a movie since it’s based on storytelling and fantasy? Well, many movie theaters push the limits of sound for theater goers, to give them a more immersive audio experience. While this might help you as the viewer get a sense of being there more, it can also drive the volume to levels high enough to cause you and everyone else in the theater with permanent hearing loss.

Understanding the Risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Many people make the mistake of thinking they are too young to get hearing loss. In truth people can get hearing loss at any age. In fact, based on a 2011 study, researchers have estimate that as much as 17 percent of teens (ages 12 to 19) have features of their hearing test suggestive of noise induced hearing loss in one or both ears. Noise induced hearing loss occurs when sounds surpass a safe listening threshold, causing audio vibrations so severe that they can damage the tiny hair-like cells of the inner ear. These cells are called stereocilia and are the sole transport of sound information from the ears to the brain. When sound becomes loud enough it can cause the stereocilia to shatter, becoming damaged or destroyed and impeding the comprehension of certain sounds, depending on the severity.

How Loud Is Too Loud?

The loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dBA) and the threshold for safe listening ends at 85 dBA, after eight hours. However, the louder the exposure, the shorter your ears can withstand, before submitting to permanent damage. For every increase of three decibels, the exposure time is cut in half. At 88 dBA it only takes four hours for damage to occur and by the time sounds reach 95 dBA it can take around an hour.

Decibels at the Movies

For film goers the exposure may teeter just on the edge of permanent damage for the duration of a two hour plus feature length blockbuster, as the filmmakers wows you with extended action scenes full of explosions and high energy music.

While there are regulations in place that govern sound levels at theaters, these industry standards are related to the overall volume of a film, not the spikes in sound for action scenes which may spike as high as 101 dBA. Where a 15-minute exposure may be enough to cause lasting damage. Even if a film is mostly under 85 dB, a few scenes which spike high enough to damage your hearing could stay with you a lifetime.

Protecting Your Hearing

Don’t worry—you can still go to the movies. Just make sure you do it safely. You can test the levels of sound in the movie theater using a downloadable app available on most smartphones which will report to you the average decibel level in a space. Some theaters are louder than others so if one’s state of the art surround sound is too much, take you and your family to a movie theater which plays a bit quieter.

Regardless, it’s always a good idea to come prepared. Along with snacks, make sure to bring hearing protection for you and your family. These can come in the form of affordable disposable foam ear plugs, or for a more secure fit, invest in custom molded earplugs.

Scheduling Regular Hearing Exams

We can do our best, but we can’t always account for damaging sounds in our world. When hearing damage occurs, while there is no going back, it can and should be treated as soon as possible, in most cases with hearing aids. If you fear that you or your family has suffered irreparable hearing damage at the movies or somewhere else, we are here to help. We can test your hearing and find the best solution. Contact us today to set up your next visit.