We thank our veterans for their service and it’s unfortunate that many return home with traumatic injuries, both internal and external, which can take a long road to recover from; it’s one of the many sacrifices they’ve made that we salute them for.
One of the conditions that can stem from military service is post-traumatic stress disorder, which can be triggered by sudden sounds and loud noises, frequent in every genre of movie and show. While some films and television warn viewers about these elements, all that does is remove a title from what a veteran can watch.
Hypersensitivity to Sounds and PTSD
Hypersensitivity to sound is known as hyperacusis, which is a condition that can develop from physical injuries to the brain’s central auditory processing center or the inner ear from diseases like Lyme or psychological conditions like PTSD. In fact, sensitivity to sudden loud noises is one of the most common and best-known PTSD indicators due to the noise being linked to memories of life-threatening situations and creating an instant surge of anxiety.
For veterans, the memories of gunfire, bombs, missiles, and the general noise of battles can trigger the fight-or-flight response. While the public often associates these triggers with any loud noise, it can sometimes be a specific sound connected with a memory, such as a siren or a sudden sound like a loud sneeze or door slam.
Movies with Explosions or Sudden Loud Noises
Loud sound is expected in genres like action or horror, but sudden and loud noises can be found across media types, and they don’t always give a trigger warning.
Let’s take a look at some examples outside of action and horror movies:
- Barbie, Comedy Movie
- Leave The World Behind, Thriller
- Good Omens, Comedy TV Show
- Doctor Who, Sci-Fi Show
- Haunted Mansion, Kids Comedy
- Wonka, Kids Musical Comedy
- Mean Girls, Teenage Comedy
- House, Medical TV Drama/Comedy
and many, many others.
While the point of this type of sound is to catch someone off guard and make them feel a specific way, adding weight to a scene, it can be very upsetting for people with PTSD; potentially triggering a strong physical reaction that not only harms the person with PTSD, but other viewers as well.
Managing Sound Levels for a Comfortable Experience
Many streaming services, televisions, and computers give users the ability to adjust the level of sound in a film or show. These adjustments can also be used to stifle louder sounds and reduce noises, helping lower the risk of a PTSD trigger. For example, a speaker system with a center channel can have the dynamic range decreased with in-menu volume adjustments.
Other ways to help keep the audio in a range that can reduce the risk of a trigger depending on the type of audio devices you have. If external devices, such as soundbars, it may be a good idea to disconnect them. Soundbars improve the quality and loudness made from a movie or show, especially with a subwoofer, and deliver an immersive experience. Another option is to enable “Night Sound” or “Night Mode”, a system feature in many TVs and streaming boxes that combine the loudest and quietest sounds, making it less disruptive overall.
The room you watch movies and shows in can also be a factor; if the room has great acoustics, it may be time to damper them. You want to ensure that sound waves dissipate quickly rather than bouncing around, so items and furniture, pictures, or wall art, should be placed to break up the waves and dampen the noise.
While these volume adjustments can help, they only dampen and don’t solve the core issue. These titles feature loud and sudden noises that can trigger veterans with PTSD.
Want to Skip Out Scenes That Trigger PTSD? Use Enjoy Movies Your Way’s Tag Mode
Fast-forwarding is always an option, but that leaves you guessing when they are or having to preview the film and skip around. This is no way to enjoy shows or movies, especially since the condition is from military service. We at Enjoy Movies Your Way recognize the sacrifice and service our armed forces have given the country, and even when PTSD isn’t a result of active duty, it is still a condition that needs care.
Just because someone has a condition, doesn’t mean they should have to avoid or watch for warnings or be unable to enjoy the entertainment they want. That’s why we created Tag Mode.
With Enjoy’s Tag Mode feature, you can remove scenes with loud noises and sudden volume increases, free to enjoy them with your loved ones without worrying about triggering their PTSD. We even have a community of taggers that trade their tags, helping other people with PTSD avoid anything that could risk an episode or panic attack.
Give our Tag Mode tutorial video a watch and discover how you no longer have to guess or avoid favored genres. You can finally enjoy movies your way.
