If anything it sounds louder now .. but that's probably because way back I used to be way back
Mind you, my touring legacy is a faint but ever-present tinnitus, which probably means it's even louder than I hear
Back to topic .. the response I've heard most often from Meat to drunken heckles from way back in the arena is "I can't hear a thing you're saying .. have no idea what you're shouting .. " and then continues with business