What are Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH)?
SDH are subtitles designed for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. They include spoken dialogue plus non-speech information like speaker labels and important sounds, formatted to work where traditional closed captions are not supported.
Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) are a form of subtitle built for accessibility. Unlike standard subtitles, which usually show only spoken dialogue (often for translation), SDH also convey the audio information a hearing viewer would pick up: who is speaking, tone, and meaningful sounds like a phone ringing or a door slamming.
SDH exist because of a technical gap. Traditional closed captions rely on a separate caption track and player support that many platforms and file formats do not offer. SDH carry the same accessibility information but are delivered as a normal subtitle track, so they work across more devices, players, and formats.
What SDH include
- Dialogue, the spoken words.
- Speaker identification, labels when it is not obvious who is talking.
- Non-speech sounds, such as [applause] or [phone ringing], when they carry meaning.
- Tone or manner cues, when delivery changes the meaning.
Why it matters
SDH make video usable for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, which is both an accessibility responsibility and, in many contexts, a legal or procurement requirement. They also help any viewer watching without sound, in a noisy place, or in a sound-sensitive environment. For training and support content, accessible subtitles widen who can actually use the material.
How it works
SDH are produced like other subtitles: the audio is transcribed, timed to the video, and exported as a subtitle file such as SRT or VTT, with the added non-speech and speaker cues. They can be kept as a selectable track or burned directly into the video when the destination does not support selectable subtitles.
Vidocu transcribes a video and generates timed subtitles you can edit to add speaker labels and sound cues, then export as SRT or VTT, or burn into the video. The same workflow can also translate subtitles into other languages, so accessible content reaches a wider audience.
Best practices
- Include meaningful sounds only: caption audio that affects understanding, not every noise.
- Label speakers when unclear: identify who is talking when the visual does not.
- Keep timing readable: match captions to speech and give viewers time to read.
- Match the destination: use a selectable track where supported, and burn-in where it is not.
- Proofread the transcript: accuracy matters most for the people who rely on it.
Why it matters
Built for accessibility
SDH serve deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers by conveying audio information, not just dialogue.
More than dialogue
They add speaker labels, meaningful sounds, and tone cues that a hearing viewer would notice.
Work where closed captions cannot
SDH are delivered as a normal subtitle track, so they function across more players and formats than separate caption tracks.
Help everyone, not only some
They also serve viewers watching on mute, in noisy spaces, or in sound-sensitive settings.
Exported as standard files
SDH ship as SRT or VTT tracks or can be burned into the video for unsupported destinations.
Examples
- •A training video with captions reading [alarm sounds] and a speaker label for the off-screen narrator.
- •A product demo burned with SDH subtitles for a platform that does not support selectable caption tracks.
- •A support tutorial published with both an SDH track and a translated subtitle track.
- •A webinar recording captioned with speaker names so viewers can follow a multi-person discussion.
Frequently asked questions
SDH stands for subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. They include spoken dialogue plus non-speech audio information such as speaker labels and meaningful sounds.
Both convey accessibility information. Closed captions use a separate caption track that not every platform supports, while SDH are delivered as a standard subtitle track, so they work across more devices and file formats.
They include dialogue, speaker identification when it is unclear who is talking, meaningful non-speech sounds like [applause], and tone cues when delivery changes the meaning.
Use SDH when accessibility for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers matters, or when your destination does not support a separate closed-caption track but you still need accessible, sound-aware subtitles.
SDH are commonly exported as SRT or VTT subtitle files, or burned directly into the video when the destination does not support selectable subtitle tracks.
Vidocu transcribes your video and generates timed subtitles you can edit to add speaker labels and sound cues, then export as SRT or VTT or burn into the video, with translation into 65+ languages when needed.
Related terms
Learn more
- AI Subtitles Generator — Generate timed, editable subtitles you can make accessible with speaker and sound cues.
- Subtitle Burner — Burn SDH subtitles into a video for platforms without selectable tracks.
- Subtitle Creator — Create and edit subtitle files, then export as SRT or VTT.
- Subtitle Translator — Translate accessible subtitles into more languages.