SDH Subtitles: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?

Video content use has grown quickly with the rise of smartphones and social media platforms. Every year, more people around the world spend time watching videos online, and this trend continues to rise. In today's crowded digital landscape, having engaging video content is not enough. To truly reach a wider audience, creators must make their videos accessible to everyone — including those with hearing loss or people who speak different languages. This is where SDH subtitles come in.

What Are SDH Subtitles?

SDH stands for Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They are special subtitles designed to help people who cannot hear audio content enjoy and follow videos with ease. Unlike standard subtitles, SDH subtitles do more than just translate spoken words.

Key Features of SDH Subtitles

• Transcribe every spoken word in the video.
• Describe important non-speech sounds, such as music, laughter, applause, or a door slamming.
• Include speaker labels to show who is talking, especially when voices change.
• Display in a clear and readable format, usually at the bottom of the screen.
• Support a wide range of devices and platforms, including streaming services, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

SDH Subtitles vs. Standard Subtitles and Closed Captions

People often confuse subtitles and captions, but they serve different needs. Here’s a breakdown:

• Standard Subtitles:
  • Show only the spoken dialogue, either as a direct transcript or a translation.
  • Assume the audience can hear everything else, such as music or sound effects.
  • Do not include non-speech sounds or speaker identification.
• Closed Captions (CC):
  • Designed for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Include all important audio cues, not just dialogue.
  • Use a set style (white letters on a black background) and can be moved around the screen.
• SDH Subtitles:
  • Offer the benefits of both subtitles and captions.
  • Transcribe dialogue and describe non-speech audio cues.
  • Can use different font sizes, colors, and placements for better readability.
  • Are often required on platforms like Blu-ray discs and streaming services for accessibility.

Why Should You Add SDH Subtitles to Your Videos?

Reach a Larger Audience

• Over 1.5 billion people live with some form of hearing loss, representing about 20% of the global population (World Health Organization, 2021).
• Including SDH subtitles helps non-native speakers follow along with your message.

Improve Comprehension for All Viewers

• SDH subtitles help viewers understand fast speakers, heavy accents, or unclear audio.
• Assist viewers in noisy environments or when watching with the audio muted.
• Benefit people with attention deficits by providing more context (Harvard Business Review, 2023).

Meet Legal and Compliance Requirements

• In the US, government and public-facing organizations must provide accessible video content under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Failure to do so can result in lawsuits or negative publicity, as seen in a 2020 case involving government briefings (NAD vs. White House).

Boost Video Performance on Social Media

• About 85% of videos are watched on social media without sound (Digiday, 2016).
• Captioned videos see a 40% increase in views. Plus, 80% of viewers are more likely to watch a video to the end if it has subtitles (Instapage, 2022).

Enhance SEO for Video Content

• Search engines cannot watch or listen to video content. They rely on text to understand what’s inside your video.
• Providing SDH subtitles serves as a full transcript, making your content more discoverable and improving your search rankings.

How to Add SDH Subtitles to Your Videos

Adding SDH subtitles involves more than just copying the spoken words. Here’s a simple process to help you get started:

1. Choose the correct subtitle format based on the platform (such as SRT or VTT files).
2. Transcribe all spoken dialogue in the original language.
3. Add descriptions for non-speech sounds, music cues, and speaker identifications.
4. Sync the subtitles with the video so that the text matches the timing of the audio.
5. Check for readability in font size, color, and screen placement.

You may consider creating SDH subtitles yourself to save money. However, this can be very time-consuming. For an hour-long video, accurate subtitling can take several hours — longer if you are new to transcription. Audio quality, background noise, accents, and complex dialogue can add extra challenges.

Automated transcription tools are available, but they often lack the accuracy needed for SDH subtitles, especially when speakers overlap, use slang, or have strong accents (NIST, 2022). If you use automation, always proofread using professional proofreading services to ensure quality.

Choosing Professional Subtitle Services

For accurate and reliable SDH subtitles, many creators use professional subtitling providers. These services offer:

• High accuracy rates (above 99%).
• Fast turnaround times for tight deadlines.
• Flexible pricing to fit different project budgets. To learn more, see captioning services pricing.
• Compliance with legal accessibility standards.
• Formats tailored to all popular platforms and devices.

If needed, you can also access translation services for multilingual subtitles or audio translation.

Conclusion: Improve Video Accessibility and Impact with SDH Subtitling

Adding SDH subtitles is a straightforward way to boost the accessibility, reach, and engagement of your videos. They help people with hearing loss, non-native speakers, and anyone watching in sound-off environments. Improved SEO and legal compliance provide extra motivation for creators to make SDH subtitling a standard practice.

If you want accurate and professionally formatted SDH subtitles — without spending hours on manual work — GoTranscript offers human transcription and subtitle solutions that fit your needs. Explore GoTranscript’s full range of automated transcription, AI transcription subscription, closed captioning services, and more to make your video content accessible and effective for all.