Practical Tips for Hearing Better in Noisy Restaurants

Restaurants are challenging for everyone’s hearing – the clatter of dishes, music, chatter from other tables. If you have hearing difficulties, they can feel impossible. But there are strategies that can help you enjoy dining out again.

Choose the Right Venue

Not all restaurants are equally noisy. Look for places with carpet, curtains, acoustic panels, or soft furnishings – these absorb sound rather than bouncing it around. Hard surfaces like concrete floors and exposed brick are much more challenging.

Smaller, quieter venues are generally easier than large, busy ones. If you’re trying somewhere new, consider visiting for a quieter lunch before attempting a Friday night dinner.

Some restaurants now display noise ratings online – apps like SoundPrint crowdsource noise levels at venues. It’s worth checking before you book.

Time and Position Matter

Go early. Restaurants are significantly quieter before they fill up. Booking for 5:30pm or 6pm gives you a much better acoustic environment than 7:30pm.

Request a corner booth or a table against a wall rather than in the middle of the room. Having a wall behind you reduces the noise coming from that direction.

Sit with your back to the main noise source – usually the kitchen, bar, or main entrance. Position yourself so you can see the faces of the people you want to hear most.

Use Technology to Help

If you wear hearing aids, make sure you’re using the restaurant or noise program if your devices have one. These settings are specifically designed to reduce background noise and focus on speech.

Some hearing aids have companion microphones that a dining companion can wear – these stream their voice directly to your hearing aids, cutting through the background noise.

Your audiologist can help optimise your hearing aids for challenging situations like restaurants if you’re still struggling.

Communication Strategies

Let your companions know you find it hard to hear in noisy environments. Most people are happy to face you when speaking, speak a bit more clearly, or move to a quieter spot if needed.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a different table if yours is too noisy. Good restaurants want you to enjoy your experience.

Keep the group small if possible. The more people talking, the harder it becomes to follow any single conversation.

Struggling to hear in restaurants? We can optimise your hearing aids for noisy environments and discuss assistive devices that might help.