Sir, - I have a hearing loss and I get great enjoyment from watching television. Unfortunately, even using two hearing aids, I have to have the volume turned so loud to be able to hear that I constantly get complaints from the neighbours. I find that sub-titles are essential for me to understand a programme when it is at a normal sound level and one that is acceptable to my neighbours.
Unfortunately, not many programmes have sub-titles, especially on RTE, and those that have are mostly "soaps" or imported films. These are fine and I have no complaints about them. However, even with a hearing loss, I am intelligent enough to understand more serious programmes, in particular the news, which for some reason best known to RTE, is not sub-titled.
RTE points out that there is News for the Deaf. This is only a summary of the news and, in fact, I am not deaf - I am hard of hearing and I do like to know what is going on as so many other hard of hearing people do as well. In fact the news is pre-written and read out by newscasters. Surely it would not be too expensive to sub-title that even at the expense of something else?
I am not asking for all programmes to be sub-titled, although the Broadcasting Bill 1999 seems to suggest we have rights in this direction. The news is such an important programme that we should be able to know what is going on and what is happening and not be discriminated against. I just wonder who decided that the news should not be sub-titled and why. Did RTE get advice from those who know - the hard of hearing and the deaf? - Yours, etc.,
Kenneth Edwards, Hon PRO, Irish Hard of Hearing Association, Cross Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.