To rant about unclear speaking voices on the phone

Very, very occasionally, I have faced that problem and one ‘pardon me’ usually solves it

I am rather deaf and I often have trouble deciphering what people are saying on the phone even with my hearing aids in.

I have become very aware over the years of how some people on TV speak clearly while others don't.

I wonder if it's because they use headphones and talk into the built-in microphone?

I agree 100%. I have struggled to hear my DH clearly for a few years and also use the subtitles on TV, so bit the bullet and had my hearing tested. It has quite deteriorated! I got the aids and heard sounds I hadn't heard for quite some time - like the dishwasher beeping LOUDLY when it has finished, and the front door bell clear as a whistle. And despite my insistence that DH wasn't speaking clearly, he speaks fine!

But I still need the subtitles just as before, and still can't understand lots of people on the phone. DH had his hearing tested at the same time and all was fine - but he also struggles with the TV and people on the phone!

I honestly haven’t had a problem, I wouldn’t know how to find subtitles on our TV and that’s with sinusitis at the moment blocking one ear.

I use subtitles with many dramas now and have done since subtitling vastly improved on smart televisions.

I find I can easily read them and still concentrate on the action. I suppose I got into the habit after watching scandi dramas first, and then realised it kept the noise down in a small flat so did not impinge on partner in the other room.

Incidentally I read an article in the Guardian that according to hearing specialists many healthy young people are wearing noise headsets, not to just listen but to cancel out everyday noise because they find it overwhelming and can’t cope with chit chat, birds singing, lawn mowers, traffic, etc etc all at once.

They are actually losing the ability to “self filter” because of the headsets….and these were “not” neurodivergence issues such as might be experienced by people with ADHD or some forms of Autism.

So they are having to relearn how to ignore a clock ticking or the boiler or fridge grumbling and push it to the back and concentrate on what is relevant and important, but the report also says many youngster are also using subtitles when gaming and also opting for it when viewing tv.

It is almost as if they don’t want to hear others speak and don’t want the bother of speaking themselves when text will do.
All in their own bubble.
I found that quite worrying and sad really.

In many old films and tv series the actors spoke with crystal clear diction and although often very stagey and affected, and certainly not at all realistic, I find it quite refreshing and easy on the ear and not too much intrusive incidental music.

Gosh, people mumble!! So hard on the phone, foreign accent and mumbling! Even worse - foreign accent, mumbling and a face mask!

I always use the speaker on my telephone. With that I can usually hear and understand easily.

Also people speaking too quickly, wonder how they manage to breathe.

Evidently a large proportion of the population use subtitles; the BBC has been criticised for the poor quality of its sound tracks, and it seems that flat screen TVs can't house decent sized speakers as well as the old box shaped TVs. The upside is that subtitles can apparently help children with reading, and there was a suggestion recently to use them for this reason. Like Babs I too struggle with many conversations on the phone, and have to ask people to speak up. Watching the news on TV is fine, as the newsreaders are facing me and speaking clearly - if only the dialogue on some dramas was half as good.

I rang a company to ask about a product and the person I spoke to had an extremely strong Indian accent. I really couldn’t understand a word. I very politely explained that I had a hearing problem (I haven’t, but didn’t want to offend him) and asked if I could speak to someone with a British accent. He put me through to someone lose straight away…..this person had the strongest Scottish accent I have ever heard! Out of the frying pan springs to mind!

Someone else, not lose

To be honest I have yet to have a problem hearing what people say face to face, on the telephone, radio and tv. I hate loud nosies and I spend a lot of time wndering around turning the volume down on anything I am listening to.

Whether I have any hearing loss I do not know, I have never had a hearing test,

Accents are a different thing altogether and some are difficult to understand, even face to face, but at least face to face you can see the person and their mouth moving, whic can be very helpful.

Scammers often start a conversation quite clearly then speak more quickly and exaggerate their accent to reel you in. Some people will avoid being in the awkward position of saying they can’t understand what’s being suggested by just agreeing.

Never be afraid to say that you can’t understand a word so you’re hanging up.

Granmarderby10

In many old films and tv series the actors spoke with crystal clear diction and although often very stagey and affected, and certainly not at all realistic, I find it quite refreshing and easy on the ear and not too much intrusive incidental music.

Indeed, the crystal clear voices of the actors in a film like Brief Encounter are so easy on the ear. I think is fashionable for actors today to mumble and mutter, they probably think is more realistic, but sadly they tend to always raise their voices and speak clearly when using the ‘F’ word.

At the first sign of a problem I ask politely for them to speak slowly and clearly and it usually works except with people whose command of English is perhaps not quite enough if the discussion turns complex.

I haven’t had that problem but then I never answer the phone unless it is someone I know. It works. If they know you and are genuine they will leave a clear message.

I get accused of mumbling and not when I'm on the phone by my OH who has recently acquired a Hearing Aid.🤣🤣
All these posts make me wonder whether actually I am mumbling.
I've encouraged OH to put subtitles on the telly even when English is being spoken. I find it helpful even though my hearing is fine.
I agree actors seem to mumble these days.

Had someone call my landline a few days ago. I do not often use it as easier to understand my mobile! This man had a very strong Indian accent & spoke very fast! Told him sorry I could not understand him & he hung up! One way to get rid of scammers!

Had this problem only the other day! I've recently had my hearing checked, no problem at all, yet with two successive people from the same company I really struggled to hear what they were saying. The first had a very strong accent, the second didn't and it wasn't the accent that was the problem but the fact that both spoke so fast and presumably using headset microphones that caused terrible fuzziness . My husband and I were both listening on speaker and trying to interpret what was being said. We eventually had to request that they slow down. Easier when they did but still fuzzy. No, you are definitely not being unreasonable 🙂

merlotgran

Scammers often start a conversation quite clearly then speak more quickly and exaggerate their accent to reel you in. Some people will avoid being in the awkward position of saying they can’t understand what’s being suggested by just agreeing.

Never be afraid to say that you can’t understand a word so you’re hanging up.

Quite right, Merlotgran. Another recent development is to call your mobile and me speak so inaudibly that when you say "I can't hear you" the scammer then says "Ok, I'll transfer this to WhatsApp - don't hang up" and then you see the same written dialogue appear on your WhatsApp at which point they are hacking your account for the other phone scams. Hang up immediately. This happened to me only last week when I saw the WhatsApp "hello mum I've got a new phone" scam on TV

Babs03 I quite agree. It's worse when you are speaking with someone from a foreign call centre.
As for tv we find that more so on American programmes they can't possibly talk as fast as they do normally. I once read that the programmes are speeded up slightly which would explain that.
A lot of people can't pronounce their words properly which doesn't help.

I have the same problem on phone calls and dread having to communicate, trying put my problem in a polite and thoughtful way, but so frustrating!