What this criterion requires
Prerecorded speech audio has no background sounds, allows turning them off, or keeps them at least 20 dB below the speech.
Who it helps
People who are hard of hearing, for whom background music masks speech.
Example: fails vs passes
A narrated explainer whose music bed sits just below the voice level.
A mix with narration at least 20 dB above the background, or a clean-speech version.
Background audio masks speech for hard-of-hearing listeners.
How to meet and fix it
- Mix narration well above music beds, or publish a clean-speech version
Common failures auditors find
- Podcast intros where music competes with the host's voice
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 1.4.7: Low or No Background Audio - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 1.4.7 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
Does your site pass 1.4.7?
Run a free automated check now, or have certified IAAP/CPWA auditors test every criterion and document the result.