In the past they were called “books-on-tape”. Back then, obviously, we didn’t even have CDs let alone streaming services. These days, they have a much better name; audiobooks.
With an audiobook, you will listen to the book being read by a narrator. It’s kind of like when you were younger and a teacher or parent read to you. You can engage with new concepts, get swept up in a story, or learn something new. Audiobooks are an excellent way to pass time and enhance your mind.
And they’re also a great tool for audio training.
What’s auditory training?
Wait, wait, wait, what’s this auditory training thing, you may ask? It sounds complicated and an awful lot like school.
As a skilled kind of listening, auditory training is created to give you a better ability to perceive, process, and comprehend sounds (medically known as “auditory information”). One of the primary uses of auditory training is to help individuals learn to hear with their new hearing aids.
That’s because when you have neglected 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 influx of extra information. Practically, this often means that your brain can’t process those sounds as well as it normally does (at least, not at first). Consequently, auditory training frequently becomes a helpful exercise. (As a side note, auditory training is also helpful for those with language learning challenges or auditory processing disorders).
Another perspective: Audio books won’t really make you hear clearer, but they will help you better understand what you’re hearing.
When you listen to audiobooks, what happens?
Helping your brain make sense of sound again is exactly what auditory training is created to do. Humans have a fairly complicated 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 manage. The concept is that audiobooks are a great way to help your brain get accustomed to that process again, particularly if you’re breaking in a new pair of hearing aids.
Audiobooks can assist with your auditory training in a number of different ways, including the following:
- Improvements in pronunciation: In some cases, it’s not just the hearing part that can need some practice. Individuals who suffer with hearing loss frequently also suffer from social isolation, and that can leave their communication skills a bit out of practice. Audiobooks can make communication a great deal easier by helping you get a handle on pronunciation.
- Listening comprehension: Perceiving speech is one thing, comprehending it is another thing completely. When you follow along with the story that the narrator is reading, you will get practice distinguishing speech. Your brain needs practice connecting words to concepts, and helping those concepts remain rooted in your mind. This can help you follow conversations more closely in your daily life.
- A bigger vocabulary: Who doesn’t want to improve their vocabulary? The more words you’re exposed to, the larger your vocabulary will become. Let your impressive new words impress all of your friends. Perhaps those potatoes look dubious, or you’re concerned that bringing your friends to the bar will really exacerbate your issues with your boyfriend. With audiobooks, you’ll have just the right words queued up for any situation.
- Perception of speech: Audiobooks will help you get accustomed to hearing and comprehending speech again. During normal conversations, however, you will have a lot less control than you will with an audiobook. You can rewind if you don’t understand something and listen to something as many times as you want to. It’s a great way to practice understanding words!
- Improvements of focus: You’ll be able to focus your attention longer, with some help from your audiobook pals. After all, if you’re getting used to a new pair of hearing aids, it might have been a while since you last took part in and listened to an entire conversation. You may require some practice tuning in and staying focused, and audiobooks can help you with that.
Audiobooks as auditory aids
Reading along with a physical version of your audiobook is absolutely advisable. Your brain will adapt faster to new audio inputs making those linguistic links more robust. In other words, it’s the perfect way to bolster your auditory training. 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. Many online vendors sell them, including Amazon. Anywhere you find yourself, you can cue one up on your phone.
Plus, if you can’t find an audiobook you particularly like, you could always try listening to a podcast to get the same experience (and there are podcasts on practically every topic). Your mind and your hearing can be enhanced together.
Can I use my hearing aids to listen to audiobooks?
Bluetooth functionality is a feature that is included with many contemporary hearing aids. Meaning, you can connect your hearing aids with your cellphone, your speakers, your tv, or any other Bluetooth-equipped device. With this, when you listen to an audiobook, you won’t need uncomfortable headphones over your hearing aids. Instead, you can listen directly with your hearing aids.
You’ll now get better sound quality and increased convenience.
Consult us about audiobooks
So come in and talk to us if you’re concerned about having difficulty getting accustomed to your hearing aids or if you believe you might be experiencing hearing loss.