Yup! My spouse whispered in my ear what was going on. I have the same issue with high-pitched whines. Really wish directors would get creative enough to avoid both of these things.

There's no excuse. I don't know what the stats are on hearers of the eeeee but I do know the stats on people who will have a real rough day with strobing lights and it's close to a third. Why, even leaving decency out of it, would anyone want to shrink their audience a third?