Why is it so Hard to Understand Dialogue on Television?

Over the course of the last decade and a half, there has been a slow but steady shift in how we watch television, which contributes to our difficulties in following dialogue on television – traditional cable or streaming.

Here are the main factors contributing to the challenge:

1. The Demise of Front-Facing Speakers:

Modern flat-screen TVs prioritize sleek design. As a result, you rarely see the speakers anymore. They're typically hidden underneath or behind the screen, and certainly not aimed directly at you. Plus, they're significantly smaller than the speakers of yesteryear, leading to less robust sound projection.

2. Sitting Further Away from Bigger Screens:

Today's high-definition televisions offer incredible picture quality, and the screens are much larger. This naturally leads us to sit further back for a comfortable viewing experience. Remember being told as a kid not to sit too close? That's less of a concern now because we're already at a greater distance, meaning the sound has to travel further to reach us.

3. Modern Home Design and Acoustics:

Our living spaces have also evolved. Open-concept layouts are popular, which is great for socializing but not ideal for focused listening. Back in the day, TV watching often happened in dedicated rooms like living rooms or dens, often with more sound-absorbing elements like carpets and wallpaper. Now, sounds from the kitchen or other parts of the house can easily interfere with the TV audio, making it harder to discern dialogue.

4. Richer, More Complex Soundtracks:

While modern TV shows and movies boast incredibly immersive soundscapes, this richness can actually hinder speech understanding. Imagine a scene on a beach. Older productions might have focused primarily on the actors' voices. Today, you're likely to hear layered sounds like crashing waves, wind, and ambient noises. While this creates a more realistic atmosphere, these competing sounds can make it difficult to isolate and understand the dialogue.

When Should You Be Concerned?

If you find yourself consistently needing the TV volume louder than others in your household, or if even at a higher volume, you're still struggling to understand the dialogue more than those around you, it might be time to get your hearing checked or consider an auditory processing evaluation. These assessments can help pinpoint why you're experiencing more difficulty.

We're Here to Help:

At Aberdeen Audiology, with our locations in the Philadelphia suburbs (Wayne, Malvern, and West Chester), we have the expertise and technology to evaluate your hearing and auditory processing abilities. If you're concerned about your listening comprehension, don't hesitate to reach out. 

Thanks for tuning in!