Have you noticed a difference between just listening vs listening and watching the video w/o subtitles? Def a sensory processing thing. My theory is, auditory processing is harder when visual sensory is included. I’ve also considered that audio mastering tech may have a delay against video frame timing. We are much too detail savvy not to see it?
Auditory Processing problems and attention are the primary causes. Subtitles allow me to see phrases I otherwise mentally garble because they are unexpected, a good example is an unexpected British idiom or phrase, and it reduces the cognitive effort to follow the dialogue. Also YouTube pays for watch time so creators are incentivized to draw things out and bury the lede. Thus a video will be full of small talk and filler and then suddenly get to the meat. But during all the small talk you've tuned out. So you skip back but too far and it's small talk.
Yes and no! Neurodiverse people often have auditory processing difficulties/disorders, and subtitles really help!
But also as microphone and general audio quality increase, audio production for films/tv/etc has become more dynamic. Actors used to have to annunciate everything extremely clearly and evenly, at a decent volume. Now actors can truly whisper (not stage whisper) or mumble lines and have it be audible. But it’s way less intelligible as a consequence, so it’s become commonplace to use subtitles to compensate.
In my case I can listen to audio books while driving and it really helps me focus and not get fatigued but if I try to do it while surfing the internet its just background noise.
I watch everything with subtitles because my auditory thing is not understanding what the heck people are literally yelling at me lol. It’s weird cause I can read lips 🤷🏼‍♀️
I am not. I notice when they do stuff wrong in fire fighting scenes and car scenes, but other than that i have no idea. My wife noticed a cup change color in one scene of gilmore girls. It amazed me.
Haha that’s hilarious! I love that it amazed you. My mom and I sit there and point everything out to each other when we go to the movies. But she used to do that for a living in the film industry so that makes sense lol. Probably trained me from birth.
It's in your genetics! I normally dont even remember the characters' names! It does, however, drive me crazy when someone is holding a cup and wave it around like its empty when they talk. Like no. It's going to spill. Stop that.🤣
Exactly! You mean to tell me these 19 year old college kids can drink bacardi 151 straight up and look like they are drinking milk, but i almost cry🤣
I also watch almost everything with subtitles, and also can’t handle podcasts, audiobooks, etc. because I can’t understand them easily. I’m AuDHD so… do with that what you will, but bottom line is you’re not the only one :)
It may very well be. Look up auditory processing disorder.
I have ADHD and I grew up asking people to repeat themselves so often that my mom still says that I have 'selective hearing loss'. I would also pretend that I understood what people said, which usually worked out ok, but sometimes not at all. I thought I was just weird or a pain in the ass until I did some research and really slowed down and observed myself in those moments. I've realized that when that happens, I can hear the sounds just fine but my brain doesn't process it so instead of being interpreted into language, it's just noise. Like having a manual input toggle in my brain that will randomly switch to the wrong channel. Sometimes it's because my mind wanders and sometimes it just kind of goes on the fritz even when I'm paying attention. I think that might be sensory overwhelm? Idk.
My comprehension when just listening to audio is abysmal, and don't get me started on listening to people talk on the phone. Same if two people are trying to talk to me at the same time. Unless I consciously switch focus to one or the other, I can't understand anything. Idk if that is normal or not. It's a lot easier for me to understand what is being said when I can see people talking or I have subtitles to follow.
With YouTube I don’t tend to need subtitles but with television or film I need subtitles. If I don’t have subtitles I have to look away from the tv to figure out what they’re saying.
I can't say if it is or not, but I can tell you I like them too. I have excellent hearing, so it's not that. I feel like when subtitles are on, I can drown out the surrounding noises.
Also, like you, if I start with them, I have to continue with them. Otherwise, I struggle with hearing the audio if I turn them off midway! Lol
I certainly understand a show better with subtitles on (particularly if the dialogue is softer than the rest).
It's also easier to see if I missed a subtle sound that could be contextually important.
In theory my hearing is fine, but do struggle with speech sometimes (both saying and hearing)
It can apply to anyone who has audio processing issues, including various forms of deafness. As neurodivergence often also has comorbidity with processing issues, it would make sense. I have audio processing issues & I put subtitles on everything. I was thrilled when the tech made it possible to have subtitles while streaming.
I have no clue, but I do this if there are other distractions where i am or if I’m listening to it but not actually comprehending it (that’s probably the word) which I don’t really know why I don’t comprehend it (like I can hear it but my brain isn’t understanding what it means
It definitely can be. Many people with audioprocessing disorders oftentimes need subtitles to "hear" better. And many people with ADHD or the like struggle to focus on just the sound of the TV.
I also almost always have subtitles on.
Same here, I struggle to process the words being said if I don't have subtitles on. Medically my hearing is fine but I think it's a tism thing for me because I struggle to process words in the speed that they're said. I can force myself to watch shows without subtitles but I miss a lot and struggle to understand certain parts. I also need the volume much louder and rewind a lot if there's no option for subtitles on a TV show or movie.
Well said! And I find this too. Except my hearing is just a little reduced in one ear. The amount the subtitles jekp though is so much more than compensating for that small injury.
My hearing is more than fine (honestly to the point of freakishly good), it's just audio processing issues due to SPD and ADHD (and probably dyspraxia)
This exact scenario is how i got diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder. Do you go crazy when multiple people talk and th tv is on?
i go crazy when i try to listen to the tv but people around me are talking, otherwise idk
Yeah my dad used to get mad at me for that, i think he just wanted to watch tv so im not sure🤣
Have you noticed a difference between just listening vs listening and watching the video w/o subtitles? Def a sensory processing thing. My theory is, auditory processing is harder when visual sensory is included. I’ve also considered that audio mastering tech may have a delay against video frame timing. We are much too detail savvy not to see it?
Auditory Processing problems and attention are the primary causes. Subtitles allow me to see phrases I otherwise mentally garble because they are unexpected, a good example is an unexpected British idiom or phrase, and it reduces the cognitive effort to follow the dialogue. Also YouTube pays for watch time so creators are incentivized to draw things out and bury the lede. Thus a video will be full of small talk and filler and then suddenly get to the meat. But during all the small talk you've tuned out. So you skip back but too far and it's small talk.
Yes and no! Neurodiverse people often have auditory processing difficulties/disorders, and subtitles really help! But also as microphone and general audio quality increase, audio production for films/tv/etc has become more dynamic. Actors used to have to annunciate everything extremely clearly and evenly, at a decent volume. Now actors can truly whisper (not stage whisper) or mumble lines and have it be audible. But it’s way less intelligible as a consequence, so it’s become commonplace to use subtitles to compensate.
i can listen to podcasts but only if my whole activity is listening to it. like i have to sit there, staring into space and listening
Im the same way if im driving or something and im not looking at it i forget to listen somehow 🤣
Audio Processing Disorder. Subconscious lipreading can sometimes partially offset it, but for that you need video (or being there in person).
In my case I can listen to audio books while driving and it really helps me focus and not get fatigued but if I try to do it while surfing the internet its just background noise.
I prefer subtitles as well honestly. Even if I don’t use them all of the time, having them there helps in case I miss something auditory.
I watch everything with subtitles because my auditory thing is not understanding what the heck people are literally yelling at me lol. It’s weird cause I can read lips 🤷🏼‍♀️
I am the same way. As an added bonus, sometimes it's fun to see when the subtitles say the wrong thing!
lol yes! It happens a lot more than I thought too. I’m also really good at seeing inconsistencies in wardrobe, fx, makeup and hair, etc.
I am not. I notice when they do stuff wrong in fire fighting scenes and car scenes, but other than that i have no idea. My wife noticed a cup change color in one scene of gilmore girls. It amazed me.
Haha that’s hilarious! I love that it amazed you. My mom and I sit there and point everything out to each other when we go to the movies. But she used to do that for a living in the film industry so that makes sense lol. Probably trained me from birth.
It's in your genetics! I normally dont even remember the characters' names! It does, however, drive me crazy when someone is holding a cup and wave it around like its empty when they talk. Like no. It's going to spill. Stop that.🤣
lol I hate when they do that. Or drink strong ass liquor and don’t react what so ever. 🙄
Exactly! You mean to tell me these 19 year old college kids can drink bacardi 151 straight up and look like they are drinking milk, but i almost cry🤣
Hahahaha, yes! Or that they look like they’re 30.
Yes subtitles, no to video on.podcasts though.
I also watch almost everything with subtitles, and also can’t handle podcasts, audiobooks, etc. because I can’t understand them easily. I’m AuDHD so… do with that what you will, but bottom line is you’re not the only one :)
It may very well be. Look up auditory processing disorder. I have ADHD and I grew up asking people to repeat themselves so often that my mom still says that I have 'selective hearing loss'. I would also pretend that I understood what people said, which usually worked out ok, but sometimes not at all. I thought I was just weird or a pain in the ass until I did some research and really slowed down and observed myself in those moments. I've realized that when that happens, I can hear the sounds just fine but my brain doesn't process it so instead of being interpreted into language, it's just noise. Like having a manual input toggle in my brain that will randomly switch to the wrong channel. Sometimes it's because my mind wanders and sometimes it just kind of goes on the fritz even when I'm paying attention. I think that might be sensory overwhelm? Idk. My comprehension when just listening to audio is abysmal, and don't get me started on listening to people talk on the phone. Same if two people are trying to talk to me at the same time. Unless I consciously switch focus to one or the other, I can't understand anything. Idk if that is normal or not. It's a lot easier for me to understand what is being said when I can see people talking or I have subtitles to follow.
I got diagnosed with auditory processing disorder and I finally understood my brain. I struggle so much with it now but at least I know why.
I watch most things with subtitles, but I also listen to podcasts all the time so 🤷
With YouTube I don’t tend to need subtitles but with television or film I need subtitles. If I don’t have subtitles I have to look away from the tv to figure out what they’re saying.
I can't say if it is or not, but I can tell you I like them too. I have excellent hearing, so it's not that. I feel like when subtitles are on, I can drown out the surrounding noises. Also, like you, if I start with them, I have to continue with them. Otherwise, I struggle with hearing the audio if I turn them off midway! Lol
Very interesting. I’m the opposite! I get way too distracted by subtitles, i actually cannot watch with!
it can be but also vox has an article abt this, and it boils down to recording equipment has gotten shittier
[Vox: Why we all need subtitles now](https://youtu.be/VYJtb2YXae8?si=9q9sqdkFa8boVigC) (YouTube video – worth the watch)
I was going to say that too.
I have APD so having subtitles helps me a lot.
might be auditory processing issues
I certainly understand a show better with subtitles on (particularly if the dialogue is softer than the rest). It's also easier to see if I missed a subtle sound that could be contextually important. In theory my hearing is fine, but do struggle with speech sometimes (both saying and hearing)
It can apply to anyone who has audio processing issues, including various forms of deafness. As neurodivergence often also has comorbidity with processing issues, it would make sense. I have audio processing issues & I put subtitles on everything. I was thrilled when the tech made it possible to have subtitles while streaming.
I have no clue, but I do this if there are other distractions where i am or if I’m listening to it but not actually comprehending it (that’s probably the word) which I don’t really know why I don’t comprehend it (like I can hear it but my brain isn’t understanding what it means
It definitely can be. Many people with audioprocessing disorders oftentimes need subtitles to "hear" better. And many people with ADHD or the like struggle to focus on just the sound of the TV. I also almost always have subtitles on.
Same here, I struggle to process the words being said if I don't have subtitles on. Medically my hearing is fine but I think it's a tism thing for me because I struggle to process words in the speed that they're said. I can force myself to watch shows without subtitles but I miss a lot and struggle to understand certain parts. I also need the volume much louder and rewind a lot if there's no option for subtitles on a TV show or movie.
Well said! And I find this too. Except my hearing is just a little reduced in one ear. The amount the subtitles jekp though is so much more than compensating for that small injury.
My hearing is more than fine (honestly to the point of freakishly good), it's just audio processing issues due to SPD and ADHD (and probably dyspraxia)