We used to call them books-on-tape, once upon a time. Of course, that was well before CDs–much less digital streaming. These days, people call them audiobooks (which, we won’t lie, is a much better name).
An audiobook gives you the ability 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 exactly that). You can engage with new concepts, get swept away in a story, or learn something new. Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time and enrich your mind.
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 complicated and an awful lot like school.)
Auditory training is a specialized form of listening, designed to help you improve your ability to process, perceive, and interpret sounds (known medically as “auditory information”). We often talk about auditory training in the context of getting used to a pair 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 living in a quieter environment.) So when you get a new pair of hearing aids, your brain suddenly has to cope with an influx of additional information. In practice, this often means that your brain can’t process those sounds as well as it normally does (at least, not at first). As a result, auditory training often becomes a useful exercise. (As a side note, auditory training is also useful for those with language learning difficulties or auditory processing disorders.)
Think of it like this: It’s not so much that audiobooks can sharpen your hearing–it’s that they can help you better understand what you hear.
What Happens When I Listen to Audiobooks??
Auditory training is designed to help your brain get used to making sense out of sounds again. If you think about it, humans have a very complicated relationship with noise. Every sound means something. (It’s a lot for your brain to process.) The idea is that audiobooks are a great way to help your brain get used to that process again–especially if you’re breaking in a brand new pair of hearing aids.
Audiobooks can help with your auditory training in a few different ways, including the following:
- Perception of speech: When you listen to an audiobook, you gain realtime practice understanding someone else speak. But you also have a bit more control than you would during a regular old conversation. You can rewind if you don’t understand something and listen to something over and over again. It’s a great way to practice understanding words!
- Listening comprehension: It’s one thing to perceive speech–it’s another to comprehend it! Audiobooks give you practice digesting and understanding what is being spoken about. Your brain needs practice connecting words to concepts, and helping those concepts stay rooted in your mind. This can help you follow conversations more closely in your everyday life.
- Improvements in pronunciation: Sometimes, it’s not just the hearing part that can need a little practice. Those with hearing loss often also suffer from social isolation, and that can leave your communication skills a little rusty. Audiobooks can help you get a handle on the pronunciation of words–making general communication a lot easier!
- Improvements of focus: You’ll be able to pay attention longer, with a little help from your audiobook friends. After all, if you’re getting used to a new pair of hearing aids, it might have been a while since you last engaged in and listened to a full conversation. An audiobook can give you some practice staying focused and tuned in.
- A bigger vocabulary: Who doesn’t want to improve their vocabulary? The more words you’re exposed to, the larger your vocabulary will become. Impress your friends by throwing out amazingly apt words. Maybe those french fries look dubious–or you’re worried bringing your friends to the bar will really exacerbate your problems with your boyfriend. Either way, audiobooks can help you find the right word for the right situation.
Audiobooks as Auditory Aids
Many hearing specialists will recommend that, as you listen to your audiobook, you read along with a physical copy of the book as well. This will help make those linguistic connections stronger in your brain–and your brain may adapt more quickly to the new auditory inputs. In other words, it’s a great way to bolster your auditory training. That’s because audiobooks compliment hearing aids.
Audiobooks are also nice because they are pretty easy to come by these days. You can subscribe to them on an app called Audible. You can easily purchase them from Amazon or other online vendors. And you can listen to them anywhere 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 just about every topic). You can improve your hearing and enrich your mind at the same time!
Can I Listen to Audiobooks Through My Hearing Aids
Many modern hearing aids are Bluetooth enabled. This means you can pair your hearing aids with your phone, your speakers, your television, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device. This means you don’t have to place cumbersome headphones over your hearing aids just to listen to an audiobook. Instead, you can listen directly through your hearing aids.
This leads to an easier process and a higher quality sound.
Talk to Your Hearing Specialist About Audiobooks
So if you think your hearing might be on the way out, or you’re worried about getting used to your hearing aids, talk to your hearing specialist about audiobooks. They’re a great resource for your auditory training (and your brain).
Contact an audiologist today! Find a provider in your area to schedule an appointment by searching providers near you.