An interesting by-product of the countless hours of streaming that we have all done during quarantine is a sharp increase in the use of closed captions by the non-hearing impaired. Indeed, this phenomenon is not new. The use of closed captions by the non-hearing impaired has been increasing steadily over the years. A 2020 study done in the UK found that while about 18% of the population regularly uses closed captions, only about 20% of these regular users were hard of hearing.
In a recent article published on Salon.com, author Mary Elizabeth Williams points out the many appeals of turning on the closed captions. You can check out the entire article here.
Take a break from streaming and enjoy learning more about how captions can improve your viewing experience!