title: Cinemas - do they pose a risk to hearing?
abstract: Noise measurements were made in cinemas during the showing of four films, to establish whether the noise levels from films might pose a risk of damage to hearing. The L(Aeq) levels for the full playing time of each film were all below 80 dB(A). Noise levels did sometimes exceed 90 dB(A) but this was never for more than a total of two minutes, and was usually for only a few seconds. Repeat L(Aeq) levels for the same films were shown to vary by 3-4 dB across different cinemas. Based on this limited sample of films and cinemas, there is no evidence that sound levels in cinemas cause permanent damage to hearing.
authors.affiliation: MRC Institute of Hearing Research, Clinical Section, Ropewalk House, 113 The Ropewalk, Nottingham NG1 6HA, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie A.
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Adrian C.
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Elizabeth A.
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lovell