The need for subtitles on television programmes to assist the hearing impaired audience - at least 20 per cent of the population and rising - could be considerably reduced if programme directors and producers of were induced to reduce or limit the amount of extraneous sound.

Background noise, heavy, driving atmospherics and loud, strident music over dialogue makes the words inaudible or incomprehensible.

Is the purpose of the producers to give more jobs to their musician and sound technicians mates or just to cover up bad script-writing?

In how many lounges or television rooms in the land does one not hear frequently from some family member: "What are they saying?"

B Johnson, Omokoroa.