Loud Music at the Movies

Lyle Jackson in Aberdeen, South Dakota, writes:

My wife and I go to the movies frequently, but lately I have started enjoying them less because of the terrible sound quality. The background music and sound effects are just as loud, and in some cases louder, than the actors’ dialog. I think I missed most of the dialogue in The Revenant and Sicario. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Marilyn responds:

Any of three possibilities may be involved, or perhaps some combination of them: 1) The movie theater has a bad sound system, or it’s adjusted poorly; 2) the movie producers think viewers like to be overwhelmed with the sound and action; and 3) you’re experiencing a bit of high-frequency hearing loss. (One of the first signs is difficulty hearing voices in a noisy environment.) I suggest that you consult an audiologist, just in case.