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It's HEAR 23HOW ENJOYABLE WAS YOUR LAST VISIT TO A RESTAURANT OR CAFÉ IN RELATION TO NOISE ???As you are well aware, it is often difficult for those with hearing loss to find places to go for a coffee and a chat or a nice meal out that doesn’t have invasive background noise. This could be in the form of loud music or a TV blaring; noisy coffee machines near where you may be sitting; an environment that induces noise from clientele – such as scraping chairs on a hard floor surface; or even noisy chatter and laughter from others that is not absorbed due to the modern décor that just does not absorb sound. In fact research indicates that the average noise level in cafes and restaurants is about 80dB and can get as high as 110dB (equivalent to a road drill)!! This is of major concern regarding those who work in these environments day in day out.
The New Zealand Acoustical Society has created a “Café and Restaurant Acoustical Index" (CRAI), which is a rating system for eating venues in New Zealand according to their acoustic environment. As you will be aware it is important for Restaurants and Cafes to gain good reviews, but usually these reviews focus on food and service, but rarely do they focus on noise issues. The Acoustical Society have set up the CRAI rating system in order to provide the public with the ability to match the type of eating experience they want with the acoustic environment.
Go to http://www.acoustics.ac.nz/crai-online.php# where you can download the CRAI rating sheet and take it with you to a restaurant or cafe. Also give a copy to those you are socialising with and encourage them to take part too. Fill it in at the restaurant and return the form to the details given on the form, or email your results directly to the CRAI editor, alternatively submit your results on-line on the above website. There are also business card sized rating forms available so that you can always have one with you. Hearing Association has these available or you can order from NZ Acoustical Society on line.
The submitted data is analysed to give a star rating for each restaurant feedback is received on. At a 1 Star venue, lip-reading is an advantage; 2 Stars you need earplugs; right up to 5 Stars where conversation is easy and enjoyable. The more feedback, the more reliable the star rating is, so receiving ratings on venues that already appear on the list is valuable.
The results are available on the Acoustical Society website (refer above) and published quarterly in New Zealand Acoustics magazine.
Can we encourage you to take part in this survey whenever you head out to enjoy a coffee or meal out? The more people who take part, the more information available to the hearing impaired community. And of course, next time you plan to dine out or visit a café for a coffee, visit the NZ Acoustical Society website to check out a good option, and don’t forget to send in your feedback afterwards.
All the best from the team Bob, Marie & Pauline.
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