Research Proposal

Title: Assessing the Hearing-Friendly Status of Restaurants in Australia

 

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Background and Rationale:

Hearing-Friendly Restaurant Assessment in Australia: Restaurants, cafes, and pubs are an essential part of the social experience. In fact, these establishments are not just places to eat and drink, but also venues for meeting friends or conducting business. However, they are often characterized by high levels of background noise, which can be a barrier to effective communication.

For instance, studies show that typical restaurant noise can fluctuate throughout the course of an evening, ranging from 65 dB(A) up to as high as 100 dB(A) (Bottalico et al., 2022; Coleman, 2012; Lebo et al., 1994). As a result, this makes understanding speech challenging for someone with normal hearing. Moreover, for someone with hearing loss, it can be nearly impossible.

Currently, one in six Australians has hearing loss, a statistic that has remained consistent in recent studies (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023). Additionally, one of the primary difficulties associated with hearing loss is hearing speech in background noise. When people seek help from a hearing health professional, restaurants are listed as one of the four most important listening environments. Consequently, the social implications of this are significant, as it can lead to social isolation and decreased quality of life for those with hearing loss. From a business perspective, restaurants that are perceived as too noisy may lose customers, particularly among older adults and those with hearing impairments. Therefore, improving the hearing-friendliness of restaurants can have both social benefits and positive economic impacts.

The Hearing-Friendly Restaurant Assessment in Australia aims to fill the gap by evaluating how well restaurants in Australia accommodate those with hearing impairments, providing valuable insights for businesses looking to improve their inclusivity.

Ultimately, by understanding and addressing the impact of noise on communication, the Hearing-Friendly Restaurant Assessment in Australia promotes a more inclusive dining experience for all Australians.

 

Objectives:

This study aims to determine what percentage of restaurants Australia-wide are hearing-friendly based on diner opinions. Specifically, the goal is to quantify the number of hearing-friendly restaurants and identify factors contributing to noise levels in the establishment.

According to community feedback through the Ambient Menu website, many people would not return to a restaurant if it was challenging to hold a conversation. However, we need quantifiable data to take this concern to the restaurant industry. Therefore, we are working with the hospitality industry to assist them in becoming more inclusive for diners with sound sensitivities, hearing loss, or those who simply prefer a more relaxed dining experience. Moreover, the data from this research will reshape our education packages for restaurants, enabling them to be more accommodating.

In addition, this survey is solely investigating restaurant noise levels across Australia, and it does not focus on food, service, parking, cost, or value.

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This study aims to determine from a diner’s viewpoint:

1. How many restaurants are “hearing-friendly”.

2. Would diners return if they are not hearing friendly?

3. What factors make them hearing friendly or lively?

 

Methodology:

1. Survey Design:

– An online survey with questions focusing on noise levels in hospitality venues where food is served. This includes restaurants, cafes, hotels, pubs, bistros and wineries.

– Participants will rate restaurants on a 4-point scale (1 = low noise level, 4 = high noise level).

– The survey will also include questions about the participants’ hearing status to control for variability in responses due to hearing ability.

 

2. Target Population:

– The general population of Australia, aged 18 and above.

– Inclusion criteria: Individuals who have dined at restaurants in Australia within the last six months and are willing to provide feedback on their experiences.

– Exclusion criteria: Individuals under 18 years old, those who have not dined at restaurants recently, and those unable or unwilling to complete the survey.

 

3. Recruitment:

– Participants will be recruited via allied health clinics and social media platforms.

 

4. Data Collection:

– Survey responses will be collected over a 6-month period (July 2024 – December 2024).

 

Timeline:

July 2024 – December 2024:

– Recruit participants and distribute the survey.

– Monitor response rates and send reminders as needed.

 

January 2025:

– Analyze the collected data.

 

February 2025:

– Prepare the final report and disseminate findings.

 

Data Analysis:

Will be conducted by Frequency Distribution to calculate the frequency of responses Data analysis will be conducted using Frequency Distribution to calculate the frequency of responses for each noise level rating. Additional statistical analyses, such as chi-square tests, will be employed to identify significant differences between groups. From this, we can determine the percentage of restaurants rated as hearing-friendly (low noise levels). Data cleaning and preparation for analysis will be detailed to ensure accuracy.

 

Ethical Considerations:

1. Informed Consent:

– Participants will be provided with a clear explanation of the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits.

– Emphasize voluntary participation and the right to withdraw at any time.

– Obtain consent through an online consent form before participants start the survey.

 

2. Data Privacy:

– Collect only necessary data and delete personally identifiable information.

– Store electronic data in encrypted formats and limit access to authorized research team members.

– Share only aggregate data in reports and presentations.

 

Expected Outcomes:

Data on the availability of hearing-friendly restaurants Australia wide.  The findings will inform an education campaign aimed at helping restaurants improve their hearing-friendliness and offering communication training for staff. This information will also be used to assist diners in finding more hearing-friendly venues.

 

Dissemination:

Will be available on the Ambient Menu website.

Presented at relevant conferences and seminars.

Submitted to academic journals and industry reports.

A strategy for engaging with the restaurant industry and policymakers will be developed.

 

Team and Resources:

Principal Investigator: Laura Drexler

Collaboration with audiology clinics and hearing impairment organisations for participant recruitment.

 

REFERENCES

 

1. Bottalico, P., Piper, R.N. and Legner, B. (2022) ‘Lombard effect, intelligibility, ambient noise, and willingness to spend time and money in a restaurant amongst older adults’, Scientific Reports, 12(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-022-10414-6.
2. Coleman, M. (2012) ‘Restaurants serve up an extra helping of hearing loss’, The Hearing Journal, 65(9). doi:10.1097/01.hj.0000419021.69639.9a.
3. Lebo, C.P., Smith, M.F., Mosher, E.R., Jelonek, S.J., Schwind, D.R., Decker, K.E., Krusemark, H.J. and Kurz, P.L., 1994. Restaurant noise, hearing loss, and hearing aids. Western Journal of Medicine, 161(1), p.45.