Remember way back when we used to refer to audiobooks as “books on tape”? With the advent of CDs and, more recently, digital streaming, the term “audiobook” has become the norm, and rightly so. Audiobooks offer a contemporary, convenient way to enjoy literature, transforming the experience of reading into one of listening.
Audiobooks: a contemporary approach to reading
With audiobooks, you don’t need to actually read a book, you can just listen to it. Fundamentally, it’s akin to having someone narrate the book to you. This format offers an immersive way to investigate new ideas, get lost in captivating stories, or gain new knowledge. Beyond being an enjoyable pastime, audiobooks can also serve a more practical purpose: auditory training.
What is auditory training?
You might be wondering, “What exactly is auditory training”? Auditory training is a practice tailored to helping an individual perceive and better comprehend audio information. This training becomes especially relevant for people who use hearing aids. For somebody who is coping with neglected hearing loss, living in a quieter environment becomes the norm.
When new sounds are initially introduced, they can seem overpowering as a result.
Auditory training improves a person’s ability to process sound by helping the brain adjust to new sound inputs. For individuals who have auditory processing difficulties or language learning challenges, auditory training can also be really helpful. Auditory training both sharpens what you’re hearing and helps you have better comprehension.
How do audiobooks help with auditory training?
Listening to audiobooks can substantially help with auditory training through various mechanisms:
- Vocabulary Expansion: Exposure to a diverse range of words through audiobooks can enrich your vocabulary.
- Listening Comprehension: Understanding speech requires more than just hearing the words; it requires comprehension of the content. Audiobooks can help improve your ability to follow everyday conversations by forcing your brain to link words with concepts.
- Pronunciation Practice: For those with hearing loss, social isolation can sometimes result in rusty communication skills. Listening to audiobooks helps with the pronunciation of words, which can improve general communication effectiveness.
- Enhanced Focus: Audiobooks encourage longer periods of attention and involvement. When somebody is trying to adapt to a new set of hearing aids, becoming reacquainted with sustained listening by using audiobooks can be very helpful.
- Speech Perception: Audiobooks are a great way for a person to practice comprehending spoken words. Unlike audiobooks, with live conversation, you don’t have the ability to rewind and replay what was said. This practice helps in fine-tuning your ability to comprehend spoken words.
Getting the most out of audiobooks as an auditory tool
For optimal results, hearing specialists often recommend pairing audiobooks with a physical copy of the book. For new audio inputs, the adaptation process may be accelerated by this relationship between written and spoken words. Audiobooks are an effective complement to hearing aids, enhancing the auditory training process.
How to access audiobooks
Today, audiobooks are more available than ever. Subscriptions to services such as Audible and purchases from websites like Amazon make it easy to access a wide assortment of titles. Moreover, with the convenience of cell phones, you can listen to audiobooks anywhere, whether you’re at home or out and about.
Podcasts also provide a similar auditory experience if you can’t decide on a particular audiobook you want to listen to. They can also be a great way to improve your hearing while keeping your mind involved.
Connecting your hearing aids to audiobooks
Bluetooth connectivity is a fairly common feature on many models of hearing aids nowadays which allows them to have a wireless link to your phone. This feature ensures a high-quality, seamless auditory experience by allowing you to stream audiobooks straight to your hearing aids.
Your hearing specialist is the first place to begin
Scheduling a consultation with your hearing specialist is the first step if you’re thinking about introducing audiobooks into your auditory training program. They can provide personalized advice and help you make the most of this resource to improve your auditory skills.
Give us a call today and let us help you be more successful with your auditory training.