Books-on-tape was what we used to call them, once upon a time. Of course, that was well before CDs, not to mention digital streaming. Today, they have a much better name; audiobooks.
With an audiobook, you will listen to the book as it’s being read by a narrator. It’s a bit like when you were younger and a teacher or parent read to you. You’ll be able to learn new things, get lost in an enchanting story, and explore ideas you never knew about. Listening to audiobooks while passing time will be a mind enriching experience.
As it turns out, they’re also a wonderful way to achieve some auditory training.
What’s auditory training?
Hold on, what’s this auditory training thing, you ask? It sounds complicated and a lot like school.
Auditory training is a specialized type of listening, designed to help you increase your ability to process, comprehend, and decipher sounds (medically known as “auditory information”). One of the principal uses of auditory training is to help people learn to hear with their new hearing aids.
That’s because when you have untreated hearing loss, your brain can slowly grow out of practice. (Your auditory centers become accustomed to living in a less noisy environment.) So your brain will have to cope with a big increase of new auditory information when you get new hearing aids. When this occurs, your brain will find it difficult, at first, to process all those new sounds as well as it should. Auditory training can be a useful tool to help handle this. (As a side note, auditory training is also helpful for people who have 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.
What happens when I listen to audiobooks?
Auditory training was designed to help your brain get used to distinguishing sounds again. If you think about it, humans have a very complex relationship with noise. Every sound means something. It’s a lot for your brain to absorb. So if you’re breaking in a new pair of hearing aids, listening to audiobooks can help your brain become accustomed to hearing and comprehending again.
Here are a few ways audiobooks can help with auditory training:
- 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 listen to sentences numerous times in order to understand them. This works really well for practicing making out words.
- Improvements of focus: You’ll be able to focus your attention longer, with a little help from your audiobook pals. Maybe it’s been some time since you’ve been able to engage in a complete conversation, especially if you’re getting used to a new set of hearing aids. An audiobook can give you some practice in remaining focused and tuned in.
- Improvements in pronunciation: You’ll frequently need practice with more than only the hearing part. Hearing loss can often bring about social solitude which can cause communication skills to atrophy. Audiobooks can make communication much easier by helping you get a grip on pronunciation.
- Listening comprehension: It’s one thing to perceive speech, it’s another to understand it! When you follow along with the story that the narrator is reading, you will get practice distinguishing speech. Your brain needs practice helping concepts take root in your mind by practicing connecting those ideas to words. This can help you follow conversations more closely in your everyday life.
- A bigger vocabulary: Most people would love to broaden their vocabulary. Your vocabulary will get bigger as you’re exposed to more words. Let your impressive new words impress all of your friends. Maybe those french fries look dubious, or you’re concerned that bringing your friends along 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.
Audiobooks as auditory aids
WE suggest that, as you listen to your audiobook, you read along with a physical copy of the book too. This will help make those linguistic connections stronger in your brain, and your brain could adapt faster to the new auditory signals. In other words, it’s the perfect way to reinforce your auditory training. Because hearing aids are enhanced by audiobooks.
It’s also very 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.
Also, if you can’t find an audiobook you really like, you could always listen to a podcast to get the same effect (and there are podcasts on just about every topic). Your mind and your hearing can be enhanced simultaneously.
Can I listen to audiobooks through my hearing aids
Bluetooth capability is a feature that is included with many contemporary hearing aids. Meaning, you can pair your hearing aids with your phone, your speakers, your tv, or any other Bluetooth-equipped device. With this, when you play an audiobook, you won’t need uncomfortable headphones over your hearing aids. Instead, you can listen directly through your hearing aids.
This results in a simpler process and a higher quality sound.
Ask us about how audiobooks can help with your auditory training
So if you believe your hearing may be starting to go, or you’re uneasy about getting accustomed to your hearing aids, talk to us about audiobooks.
