Do you use the subtitles on the TV even though you don't have hearing problems?

[ofwarren]

Disclaimer
This is the neurodiverse mumsnetters board so I'm wanting replies from other ND women

Do you use the subtitles when you watch TV?
I always have done because otherwise I can't hear what they are saying. I miss so much of what is being said without it.
If a programme doesn't have subtitles on it, I won't watch it and I won't watch live TV programmes because the subtitles won't match.

@minniejackson
As a previous poster said, support is different across the country so it depends on where you live.
I know of a few women who were diagnosed with various mental health problems that turned out to actually be autism. I'm not saying that's what's happened with you but in your shoes I would want to be assessed so you can work out what's what.

Interesting. Teen DD is definitely autistic and insists on subtitles. I'm on the fringes and prefer them. We do both have mild hearing deficiencies as well though.

Totally. It's sort of an auditory processing / attention thing I think? With subtitles, I can see the whole sentence at once. Speech is too slow, and I get bored and don't listen properly.

No, I don't because it would drive me mad and distract me.

I do have ADHD as well as ASD though, so that's probably why. If I was reading the words I'd not be able to focus on the action!

Also can't have signing lady/man on screen either. As per previous.

They deliberately mumble on tv nowadays to make the programme seem more realistic. So it is more difficult to follow a programme than it was 20 years ago. I watch pretty much everything with subtitles now. I don’t think it has anything to do with my diagnosis though, it’s because actors don’t speak as clearly as they used to.

Yes I do, I find I miss some of the storyline if I don’t.

Yes. Ds and I both need them. It's wierd without them.

I also cannot stand being read to. I need to read it myself

I'm not ND but have some traits and everyone else in my family is ND. I hope it's OK to post. None of us are hearing impaired.

We are split. DS (Asperger's, dyspraxia, language impaired) finds them hugely beneficial. As do I (some ADHD and autism traits but not IMO at a diagnosable level).

DH and DD (both fairly severely dyslexic) can't watch TV with them on at all, they find them far too distracting. Both are far better at following complex plots than DS and I.

@ExtremelyDelighted

I'm not ND but have some traits and everyone else in my family is ND. I hope it's OK to post. None of us are hearing impaired.

We are split. DS (Asperger's, dyspraxia, language impaired) finds them hugely beneficial. As do I (some ADHD and autism traits but not IMO at a diagnosable level).

DH and DD (both fairly severely dyslexic) can't watch TV with them on at all, they find them far too distracting. Both are far better at following complex plots than DS and I.

That's interesting about the dyslexia. I can see how that would be distracting.

Yep. Have done for a long time and I need it more if it’s a dark screen like a thriller/crime drama. If it’s easy to follow comedy I don’t always.

I also can’t hear without my glasses :o so things like having a conversation in the swimming pool are difficult. And when covid arrived I found it really stressful to understand people in masks.

I had audiology tests a couple of years ago and the ENT said it sounds like auditory processing disorder. ADHD medication seems to have helped me a little with other symptoms though, for example I don’t find it so difficult to cope in busy places sound wise now, presumably because my concentration means I can filter out unnecessary stuff more easily.

All the time! My autistic friends all do the same, I don't process speech as fast as I process writing so without them I struggle to keep up- my family find this endlessly frustrating as my stepfather is (likely) dyslexic and finds subtitles distracting and difficult to follow. We compromise when we have to watch things together, but I'm very glad my friends and the rest of my family are fine with them!

There is also a split in our family over music being played - I find it really distracting and struggle to concentrate on anything else with it on (I can drive but would never play music in the car through choice).

Dyslexic DH and DD both like having music or other audio on at all times, DD (teen) says she can't concentrate without it and goes to sleep listening to audio books. Having music on generally in the house does my head in, I can only have it on if I am doing something mindless or if it is very quiet indeed.

@ExtremelyDelighted

There is also a split in our family over music being played - I find it really distracting and struggle to concentrate on anything else with it on (I can drive but would never play music in the car through choice).

Dyslexic DH and DD both like having music or other audio on at all times, DD (teen) says she can't concentrate without it and goes to sleep listening to audio books. Having music on generally in the house does my head in, I can only have it on if I am doing something mindless or if it is very quiet indeed.

Same here. My son listens to music while concentrating whereas I need total silence to read a book for example.

I like podcasts but music is good for distraction too. The problem is I get too immersed in the music! I can't read and listen to podcast/music tho!

When it comes to music, I find I need at least two or three kinds of sensory input to focus, but that's an ADHD thing. I need to have something on in the background if I want to read, or draw, or craft, but then if I want to watch something on telly I have to have subtitles and something to do with my hands. I don't consider 'music on in the background' my quality listening time, though, so I usually play white noise or some sort of instrumental music rather than songs I really like and would want to pay a lot of attention to 😅

Always. I have inattentive adhd and I realise that I like subtitles to help me focus on the tv - rather than just listening and looking at something else. It does annoy my husband!

Yes, and I can’t watch anything without subtitles. NowTV is by far the worst for lack of them.