We used to call them books-on-tape, way back when. Back then, obviously, we didn’t even have CDs never mind streaming services. Today, they have a much better name; audiobooks.
An audiobook allows you to read a book by, well, listening to it. It’s kind of like having someone read a book out loud to you (okay, it’s precisely that). You can engage with new ideas, get swept up in a story, or learn something new. Audiobooks are an excellent way to pass the time and enhance your mind.
As it turns out, they’re also a fantastic way to achieve some auditory training.
Auditory training – what is it?
Wait, wait, wait, what’s this auditory training thing, you ask? It sounds complex and a lot like school.
Auditory training is a specialized type of listening, developed to help you enhance your ability to process, comprehend, and decipher sounds (known medically as “auditory information”). We often talk about auditory training from the context of getting used to a set of hearing aids.
That’s because when you have untreated hearing loss, your brain can slowly grow out of practice. (Your auditory centers become used to being in a less noisy environment.) So when you get a new pair of hearing aids, your brain abruptly has to deal with an increase of extra information. When this occurs, your brain will find it difficult, at first, to process all those new sounds as well as it should. Consequently, auditory training frequently becomes a worthwhile exercise. Also, for people who are coping with auditory processing conditions or have language learning challenges, auditory training can be a helpful tool.
Think of it like this: Audio books won’t necessarily make you hear clearer, but they will help you better understand what you’re hearing.
What happens when I listen to audiobooks?
Helping your brain distinguish sound again is precisely what auditory training is created to do. If you think about it, humans have a very complex relationship with noise. Every sound signifies something. Your brain has to do a lot of work. The concept is that audiobooks are an ideal way to help your brain get accustomed to that process again, especially if you’re breaking in a brand-new pair of hearing aids.
Audiobooks can assist with your auditory training in a number of different ways, including the following:
- Improvements in pronunciation: Sometimes, it isn’t only the hearing part that can need a little practice. Individuals that have hearing loss frequently also suffer from social isolation, and that can leave their communication skills a little out of practice. Audiobooks can help you get a grip on the pronunciation of words, making general communication much easier!
- A bigger vocabulary: Who doesn’t want to increase their vocabulary? The more words you’re exposed to, the bigger your vocabulary will become. Impress your friends by throwing out amazingly apt words. Perhaps that guy standing outside the bar looks innocuous, or your meal at that restaurant is sumptuous. Either way, audiobooks can help you pick the right word for the right situation.
- Perception of speech: Audiobooks will help you get accustomed to hearing and understanding speech again. But you also have a little bit more control than you would during a regular old conversation. You can rewind if you can’t understand something and listen to something over and over again. It’s a great way to practice understanding words!
- Improvements of focus: With some help from your audiobook, you’ll stay focused and involved for longer periods of time. Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve been able to take part in a full conversation, especially if you’re getting used to a new set of hearing aids. You may require some practice tuning in and staying focused, and audiobooks can help you with that.
- Listening comprehension: Hearing speech is one thing, comprehending it is another thing entirely. When you follow the story that the narrator is reading, you will get practice distinguishing speech. Your brain requires practice helping ideas take root in your mind by practicing joining those ideas to words. This can help you follow conversations more closely in your day-to-day life.
Using audiobooks as aids to auditory training
Reading along with a physical copy of your audiobook is absolutely advisable. Your brain will adapt faster to new audio inputs making those linguistic connections more robust. It’s definitely a good way to enhance your auditory training experience. That’s because audiobooks complement hearing aids.
Audiobooks are also nice because they are pretty easy to get these days. There’s an app called Audible which you can get a subscription to. Many online vendors sell them, including Amazon. And you can listen to them anywhere on your phone.
Plus, if you can’t find an audiobook you really like, you could always listen to a podcast to get the same experience (and there are podcasts on pretty much every topic). You can improve your hearing and enrich your mind simultaneously!
Can I use my hearing aids to play audiobooks?
A wide variety of contemporary hearing aids are Bluetooth equipped. This means you can connect your hearing aids with your cellphone, your speakers, your tv, or any other Bluetooth-equipped device. This means you don’t need to place huge headphones over your hearing aids just to listen to an audiobook. You can use your hearing aids for this instead.
You’ll now get superior sound quality and increased convenience.
Consult us about audiobooks
So if you think your hearing might be starting to go, or you’re worried about getting used to your hearing aids, talk to us about audiobooks.