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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want the subtitles on TV?

129 replies

TourangaLeila · 14/02/2025 20:23

Husband just told me to turn them off because it spoils the programme.

I say it's better as we don't need to have the TV waaayyy up to be able to understand what happening.

Everyone mumbles on TV programmes these days.

Who is BU?

OP posts:
Likewhatever · 14/02/2025 20:52

When DH wants to read I listen to the tv through Bluetooth headphones, the sound is so much better!

MoosakaWithFries · 14/02/2025 20:54

I can hear perfectly but prefer to have them on. I seem to flit between reading and listening.

Businessflake · 14/02/2025 20:56

We use them a lot because so many shows have ridiculously loud music and too low vocal volumes. We get annoyed with constantly changing the volume

Original poster
TourangaLeila · 14/02/2025 20:56

Happyher · 14/02/2025 20:52

I have them on if there any kind of accent, or the characters mutter quietly. I got fed up of not following programmes properly because I couldn’t understand or hear the dialogue

Yes this!

We are re watching vikings on Netflix and everyone has some sort of accent!

OP posts:
ZadelRoad · 14/02/2025 20:56

I personally hate them and won't watch if they're on. They're distracting and unnecessary. My eldest daughter uses them all the time, luckily we have different preferences in movies/shows so I never watch anything with her and don't have to endure it.

ParsnipPuree · 14/02/2025 20:57

If you think everyone mumbles you need your hearing tested with speech tests included.

Sounds like your dh is being difficult because he doesn't think there's a problem (which there may not be!), but if it turns out you have a hearing loss, he'd have to shut up and put up!

GrumpyFrownFace · 14/02/2025 20:59

I don't have issues with hearing but we watch everything with subtitles. If it's an American film, I won't watch it if it doesn't have subtitles as I don't know what they are saying and it ruins the film. That really applies to most things I watch. I'm autistic so that might be it - I can process it quicker if I'm reading it as well.

Criteria16 · 14/02/2025 21:01

I found my tribe! Honestly, I thought it was just me doing this!
I am not native from this country and when I came over (20+ years ago) it was a necessity to have them on. Then I recently realised I don't enjoy a show or movie that much without them, BUT that is also true when I watch TV in my own language!!
Personally I believe it's a mix of people mumbling/lots of accents mixed up and my need to be aware of the surrounding noises (vs having the TV so loud I can't hear if my DS wakes up or the dishwasher bips).

noworklifebalance · 14/02/2025 21:02

We always have them on - probably started using them with American drama series over 20 years ago when we lost so much of the nuance and key information due to mumbling, fast chat and the accent.

Our hearing may not be fine now but it definitely was back then when we started using subtitles.

BlondiePortz · 14/02/2025 21:07

Why haven't you got your hearing checked?

OneShoeShort · 14/02/2025 21:09

Neither of you are being unreasonable. I vastly prefer subtitles, they help me follow and enjoy the programme - this makes sense as I generally struggle more with attenting to audio and processing voices. It's not a hearing problem in the normal sense, it's just my brain not processing speech as efficiently particularly if there are other sounds. I actually hear well and am unusually sensitive to loud sounds, so turning the volume up is uncomfortable for me. I also find myself having to ask people to repeat themselves in busy restaurants or shops and tell my DC to pause various sounds if they or a sibling are talking to me... it was all particularly noticeable during widespread masking times when I was having to try to follow speech without seeing mouths.

But I have a friend with a partner like myself who absolutely struggles to tune-out the subtitles so they become a massive distraction to her. Subtitles are rather incompatible for the way her brain works in much the same way that they're really helpful for the way my brain works.

Take turns and/or figure out which programmes you most need the subtitles on and prioritize those and save those for solo viewing.

RRBB1920 · 14/02/2025 21:09

Well its a must in my house and have been for years (I am deaf) so not an annoyance. It has been said people do mumble in dramas these days I know many hearing people use subtitles because of that.

DeepRoseFish · 14/02/2025 21:10

I always have them on or I miss half of it and lose interest plus I hate having the TV really loud.

queenvelux · 14/02/2025 21:15

Pair your headphones to the tv. Choose your own volume.

Walkacrossthesand · 14/02/2025 21:16

@Cottagecheeseisnotcheese it's the aids, not the TV, that decide whether or not you can stream sound into your ears. If your aids are Bluetooth enabled, you can get a TV streamer that plugs into one of the several sockets on the back of the TV (optical or cable) so sound can be streamed direct to you as well as sounding normal to other listeners. It's a game-changer!

SpanThatWorld · 14/02/2025 22:40

OneShoeShort · 14/02/2025 21:09

Neither of you are being unreasonable. I vastly prefer subtitles, they help me follow and enjoy the programme - this makes sense as I generally struggle more with attenting to audio and processing voices. It's not a hearing problem in the normal sense, it's just my brain not processing speech as efficiently particularly if there are other sounds. I actually hear well and am unusually sensitive to loud sounds, so turning the volume up is uncomfortable for me. I also find myself having to ask people to repeat themselves in busy restaurants or shops and tell my DC to pause various sounds if they or a sibling are talking to me... it was all particularly noticeable during widespread masking times when I was having to try to follow speech without seeing mouths.

But I have a friend with a partner like myself who absolutely struggles to tune-out the subtitles so they become a massive distraction to her. Subtitles are rather incompatible for the way her brain works in much the same way that they're really helpful for the way my brain works.

Take turns and/or figure out which programmes you most need the subtitles on and prioritize those and save those for solo viewing.

Edited

These are classic symptoms of a high frequency hearing loss. You are finding it difficult to listen in background noise and when you can't use lip reading for extra cues.

Lots of people who have a hearing loss have a reduced dynamic range and suffer from hyperacusis (loudness discomfort)

Really worth getting a proper hearing test

OneShoeShort · 14/02/2025 23:10

SpanThatWorld · 14/02/2025 22:40

These are classic symptoms of a high frequency hearing loss. You are finding it difficult to listen in background noise and when you can't use lip reading for extra cues.

Lots of people who have a hearing loss have a reduced dynamic range and suffer from hyperacusis (loudness discomfort)

Really worth getting a proper hearing test

Show quote history

I actually have, but you're right that people should get their hearing tested to rule out hearing loss if they're finding themselves having more trouble.

My issues aren't from mechanical hearing loss, it's how my brain attends to and processes sound. In my case it could be attributed to my ADHD but these sorts of neurological variations exist on a spectrum and a lot of people just have a little more trouble in this area than others. Just like subtitles on a screen that I don't need would have absolutely zero impact on me so I would never complain about someone else wanting them but for some people that visual input is genuinely more difficult to tune out.

My issues aren't disabling, but for an activity like watching TV is more relaxing and fun (which is the point of the activity) if I can use subtitles.

Longma · 14/02/2025 23:14

I find them really distracting and old rather just have the tv coloured a bit louder to hear everything.
I don't have hearing issues particularly, though dh does - but wouldn't admit it.

I have subtitles on if we're watching something at school - I teach infant school age. I find that distracting enough.

If I was with someone who had a proper hearing loss issue I'd put up with it, obviously. But I'd rather watch without.

user2848502016 · 14/02/2025 23:55

YABU subtitles are SO annoying! I end up just reading the subtitles instead of actually watching and listening to the programme

spikefaithbuffy · 15/02/2025 00:08

I Watch everything with them. No hearing issues, but I grew up with subtitles on the TV

AlpacaMittens · 15/02/2025 00:14

According to my recent audiogram, I struggle with some frequencies. Plus I find that in lots of shows/movies the sound of explosions etc is wayyyyy up and dialogue is wayyyyy down. Turn the TV up and it's annoyingly loud, turn it down and I miss half of what's being said. Subtitles on always!

blueshoes · 15/02/2025 00:22

I love them. Grew up in a bilingual country and learnt my second language that way.

I probably have some hearing loss and often cannot catch dialogue or have to think a bit harder before I can make out the words which makes me lose the dialogue. I also don't process information well when received aurally, so subtitles are a godsend as I can read very quickly.

CarpetKnees · 15/02/2025 00:24

ZadelRoad · 14/02/2025 20:56

I personally hate them and won't watch if they're on. They're distracting and unnecessary. My eldest daughter uses them all the time, luckily we have different preferences in movies/shows so I never watch anything with her and don't have to endure it.

Same.

I can't watch things with sub-titles. It is SO distracting.

If you think everyone mumbles you need your hearing tested
was my first thought, too.

Iwantamarshmallowman · 15/02/2025 00:27

i have them on as well dh and the kids get really annoyed.

Glamiss · 15/02/2025 00:30

My husband finds subtitles nails-on-chalkboard-level annoying. He has an almost physical aversion whenever the subtitles and speech timing or text don't line up exactly. It's like listening to clashing musical notes, quite viscerally unpleasant. It's got nothing to do with being a poor reader as PP up thread suggests - I can see that might be a possible explanation, but it's not the only one.

One compromise we've found was watching in French audio but English subtitles. Sorry OP, I don't think it's as simple as you want them so he should put up with them. I expect things might change if you were diagnosed with any hearing loss though...