Have other people suddenly had to turn on closed caption on the tv as you hit middle-age? I can hear fine. It helps me process what they're saying better. That's the only way I can explain it.
I often find the diction in films unclear. There is a 25% loss of hearing in the upper registers of my right ear. Plus, background sounds on a sound track can make it hard to follow the dialogue - just as in real life.
So, yes, I love having text running across the bottom of the screen. It makes understanding much easier.