To want the subtitles on TV?

[TourangaLeila]

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?

Well I agree with the bit where you said she needs her hearing checked.

But I disagree that if she has hearing loss her DH should "put up and shut up". Surely if this is the case the logical next step is hearing aids, which might then improve the situation to the point where she doesn't need subtitles.

Then get hearing aids. Yes his preference trumps yours

Why does your preference trump his? Someone's preference has to win. There isn't exactly a compromise you can do. I personally hate them as I'm so focused on reading them, I'm missing the visuals of the show and am reading faster than people are saying them. I love subtitles on social media videos though.

I always have the subtitles on. I wish real life had them sometimes 😂 I find it easier to focus on whatever I'm watching with subtitles as I often mishear a word or two..it's like when you ask someone to repeat themselves several times. I cannot he arsed to rewind it to hear what I missed. Tv today especially, the sound is all over the place. Loud parts followed by almost muffled speaking. Sick and tired of constantly adjusting the sound on the telly.

I'm like your DH and find subtitles intrusive. My DH likes them, even when he has the volume up high. We compromise depending on who has chosen the programme and who is not really watching.

I always have them on, but it causes a lot of arguments because my stepfather can't stand them.

There are reasons to use subtitles besides being deaf or hard of hearing- I'm autistic and have sensory processing disorder, so it often takes me longer to understand speech than the majority of people and without subtitles I miss a lot of the story. I also find since "giving in" and using subtitles that my reading speed has increased, and I pick up so many more new words! Turning the volume up wouldn't help me, it would only make my processing worse as the background noise would become even more intrusive, so in my case if I want to properly watch a show it's subtitles or nothing.

As I say, this causes a lot of arguments because we watch most things as a family and stepfather finds subtitles annoying. I've started going to watch things in my laptop or another room because there's little point tuning in to a show if I'm going to spend the hour confused and frustrated with little understanding of the programme.

I find when the subtitles are on you can’t help but read them and then you miss the visuals. I’ve tried ignoring them but I find it impossible. You might as well read a book (which has no punctuation and multiple typos).

If you think everyone mumbles on TV these days, then it's time for you to get a hearing check.

I mean, I think they print labels on food in the supermarket much smaller than they used to, should I use my glasses or insist everyone else changes? Many people find that the subtitles are really distracting and spoil the show as you read the upcoming dialogue before it's delivered, I think you'll have to compromise a bit here.

I have auditory processing disorder and while not deaf, can't hear without subtitles on.

I just don't pay attention to the tv if they're not there.

Your husband is unreasonable.

I HAVE to have them on.

Partly because I think I may be going a bit deaf but mostly because EVERYBODY MUMBLES.

Why does everybody mumble?!

If you’re near an Everyman they’re expensive but always have subtitles showings almost every day. They also have proper sofas and waiter service, can’t go wrong!

I'm not deaf but I do have trouble focusing. The subtitles help with this. However, I HATE when they are incorrect or out of sync with what is being said. It actually makes it even harder to concentrate because my eyes and ears receive different information which makes my brain flip out trying to process it.

but if everyone else can hear TV and you think they are mumbling you probably have a degree of deafness ( just like 1 in 6 of the population)

Statistics around hearing loss prevalence were revised last year - it’s much higher than 1 in 6. Plus subtitles are not just used by people with hearing loss - they’re popular with neurodiverse people and non-native speakers too.

I would get a hearing test in the first instance and maybe a micro suction treatment if you think there’s a possibility of wax occlusion.

Ultimately though, if you need to use subtitles and turning the TV up doesn’t help (potential distortion of already muffled sounds), then that’s what you need. The subtitling facility IS there for a reason and studies show they are widely used. If your husband can’t tolerate it, buy a second TV and watch programmes separately.

My American friend told me her dp’s always had the subtitles on for Downton because they found the accent hard to understand. I assume it was them below stairs that they couldn’t follow.

I love subtitles!!! We have them on all the time for boxed sets. My hearing is perfect!

I get annoyed when the subtitles aren't word for word what is said. I find subtitles intrusive and distracting and at times they block what is happening on screen.

That said, if the options are loud tv or subtitles, I'd take subtitles.

We always have the subtitles on. It started because I read somewhere that it helps with children learning to read, so I originally had them on for Bing and then like. But they've just stayed on (both daughters can very much read now) and DH and I find them very useful.

And @TourangaLeila you're right, there is a lot of mumbling on telly these days.

I watched a film on a streaming service on a TV last night which was in English & Italian and it was just easier to watch it with subtitles on.

I also have them on when the washing machine is on because the kitchen is s right next to my lounge so sometimes I can't hear what's going on.

And: The Mumbling Actors!

I do have work-related hearing loss. Thankfully no partner to annoy but I think any loved one should have some understanding quite frankly. Mine isn't bad enough for hearing aids yet. Sometimes I get around the problem by usng over-ear headphones but if you are with someone that doesn't solve the problem, so subs or loud volume. Suck it up, buttercup

I have hearing issues (sound up doesn’t resolve them ) so the only way to focus on watching something is with subtitles on. This is why I think YANBU.

we always have subtitles for dh who has a hearing issue
and some programmes, particularly american, are very hard to catch what they are saying.
i struggle without subtitles now

we need those

I have subtitles on all the time despite having no hearing issues. I think it’s because the speakers in flat screen tvs are so poor/small/poorly positioned compared to what we used to have in the huge box tvs. Not willing to spend out on a sound bar though…

The person who feels they need the assisted display/ subtitles should get the final say.

I don't know about the volume thing though, surely you still want to hear it as well?

If you are turning the volume down so you can barely hear it then I can also see where your husband is coming from!

He shouldn't have to not be able to hear the TV. Can't you have the volume at a reasonable level AND have the subtitles on?

What irritates are those pointless lines squiggling about on the news to show... well, what I don't know what. May be interesting to a sound engineers or a deaf bat.

(I can't add an an image of them at the moment - but it's lots of little vertical lines moving up and down - oh, I'll try a gif)

Same reason I cannot watch dubbed shows like squid games. Mouths moving words don’t line up I just can’t do it. I end up focusing so much on the fact it does not align in again not watching or enjoying the show.