Caption Delay

The time lag between spoken audio and the appearance of the corresponding caption on screen. In live captioning, typical delays are around 5–6 seconds due to the time needed for captioners to hear, process, and produce text plus transmission overhead. In fast-paced sports, such delays mean captions describe events that have already passed on screen, breaking synchronization and reducing the utility of the captions. Caption delay is one of the central quality problems reported by d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing viewers alongside speed and accuracy.