Mumsnet Talk

I love going to the cinema but am really worried about the very high volume of the sound. Complaining, (politely) and asking for decibel readings, and asking the manager at what level the cinema's volume is set have proved fruitless. I worry that the volume, especially in children's shows, is damaging hearing.
Does anyone else share this concern?

Yes I feel the same. We tend to go to kids saturday club which i feel is quieter, but the average film is too loud. Have you thought of getting in touch with enviro health?

It does seem to have got ridiculously loud in recent years - but is that cos I'm getting old or have they genuinely raised the volume?

yes, DD hates the cinema because it's too loud (sensory issues)

I'm with you.
It's often unnecessarily loud at ours.

Too right I do - it's much too loud for me and my hearing is far from perfect. I worry about the effect on children's ears

I don't go anymore because I find it too loud.
haven't though of environmental health, though, might be worth a try.

Thank you so much for your replies. I hadn't thought of approaching Environmental health. I'll try that as this issue really bothers me. I'm old and partially deaf but I have to sit in the cinema with my finger in my one hearing ear and still I can hear the sound track. I can't get any response from cinemas when I ask them to tell me what the sound level is - does anyone know where I can hire a decibel reader? (what's it called? )

I'm with you. I went on Tuesday evening and the sound during the trailers particularly was loud enough to make my head ache. I can't bear it and it really takes the edge off a generally good night out.

My hearing isn't great, loud dialogue is fine. The dialogue being quiet and the music and sound effects being deafening

We have the DVD of Despicable Me which is brilliant, but I really need the subtitles because the everything except the talking is so stupidly load.