Books-on-tape was what we used to call them, way back when. Back then, of course, we didn’t even have CDs let alone streaming services. These days, 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 when you were a kid and a parent or teacher read to you. You’ll be able to discover new things, get lost in an enchanting tale, and experience ideas you never knew about. Listening to audiobooks when you’re passing time will be a mind enriching experience.
Turns out, they’re also a wonderful way to accomplish some auditory training.
What’s auditory training?
Wait, wait, wait, what’s this auditory training thing, you ask? It sounds complex and a lot like school.
Auditory training is a specialized form of listening, created to help you enhance your ability to process, perceive, and interpret sounds (medically known as “auditory information”). We often discuss auditory training from the perspective of getting accustomed to a pair of hearing aids.
That’s because when you have untreated hearing loss, your brain can gradually grow out of practice. (Your auditory centers become used to being in a less noisy environment.) So your brain will need to cope with a big increase of new auditory signals when you get new hearing aids. In practice, this often means that your brain can’t process those sounds as well as it generally does (at least, not initially). Auditory training can be a useful tool to help deal with this. Also, for those who are coping with auditory processing disorders or have language learning difficulties, auditory training can be a helpful tool.
Another perspective: Audio books won’t necessarily make you hear clearer, but they will help you better distinguish what you’re hearing.
When you listen to audiobooks, what happens?
Helping your brain distinguish sound again is precisely what auditory training is created to do. Humans have a pretty complex relationship with noise if you really think about it. Every single sound you hear has some significance. It’s a lot for your brain to absorb. The idea 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 set of hearing aids.
Audiobooks can assist with your auditory training in various different ways, including the following:
- Perception of speech: Audiobooks will help you get accustomed to hearing and comprehending speech again. During normal conversations, however, you will have much less control than you get with an audiobook. You can listen to sentences numerous times in order to distinguish them. It’s the perfect way to practice understanding words!
- Improvements in pronunciation: In some cases, it isn’t just the hearing part that can need some practice. Hearing loss can often bring on social solitude which can cause communication skills to atrophy. Audiobooks can make communication a lot easier by helping you get a handle on pronunciation.
- Listening comprehension: It’s one thing to hear speech, it’s another to comprehend it! When you follow along with the story that the narrator is reading, you will get practice distinguishing speech. Your brain needs practice linking words to concepts, and helping those concepts stay rooted in your mind. This can help you follow conversations more closely in your daily life.
- Improvements of focus: You’ll be able to pay attention longer, with a little help from your audiobook pals. Perhaps it’s been a while since you’ve been able to participate in a complete conversation, especially if you’re getting used to a new pair of hearing aids. You may require some practice tuning in and staying focused, and audiobooks can help you with that.
- A bigger vocabulary: Most individuals would love to increase their vocabulary. Your vocabulary will get bigger as you’re exposed to more words. Impress your friends by throwing out amazingly apt words. Perhaps those potatoes look dubious, or you’re worried that bringing your friends along to the bar will really exacerbate your issues with your boyfriend. Either way, audiobooks can help you find the right word for the right situation.
Audiobooks as auditory aids
Reading along with a physical version of your audiobook is absolutely recommended. This will help make those linguistic connections stronger in your brain, and your brain may adapt more quickly to the new auditory inputs. It’s definitely a good way to enhance your auditory training adventure. Because hearing aids are complemented by audiobooks.
It’s also really easy to get thousands of audiobooks. You can subscribe to them on an app called Audible. You can easily get them from Amazon or other online sellers. Anywhere you find yourself, you can cue one up on your phone.
And you can also get podcasts on nearly every topic in case you can’t find an audiobook you feel like listening to. Your mind and your hearing can be enhanced simultaneously.
Can I listen to audiobooks through my hearing aids
A wide variety of modern hearing aids are Bluetooth equipped. This means you can connect your hearing aids with your cellphone, your speakers, your television, or any other Bluetooth-equipped device. With this, when you play an audiobook, you won’t have uncomfortable headphones over your hearing aids. Instead, you can listen directly through your hearing aids.
This leads to a simpler process and a higher quality sound.
Ask us about how audiobooks can help with your auditory training
So come in and speak with us if you’re concerned about having difficulty getting accustomed to your hearing aids or if you think you might be experiencing hearing loss.