Books-on-tape was what we used to call them, way back when. Of course, that was well before CDs, much less digital streaming. These days, 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 a kid and a teacher or parent read to you. You’ll be able to learn new things, get lost in an engaging story, and experience ideas you were never aware of. Audiobooks are a great way to pass time and enrich your mind.
And they’re also an ideal tool for audio training.
What’s auditory training?
Wait, wait, wait, what’s this auditory training thing, you ask? It sounds complex and an awful lot like school.
Auditory training is a special form of listening, created to help you enhance your ability to process, perceive, and decipher sounds (known medically as “auditory information”). We frequently talk about auditory training from the context of getting accustomed to a pair of hearing aids.
That’s because when you have unaddressed hearing loss, your brain can slowly grow out of practice. (Your auditory centers become accustomed to being in a quieter environment.) So your brain will need to cope with a significant increase of new auditory signals when you get new hearing aids. Practically, this usually means that your brain can’t process those sounds as well as it generally does (at least, not initially). Consequently, auditory training frequently becomes a worthwhile exercise. (As a side note, auditory training is also useful for individuals with language learning challenges or auditory processing disorders).
Another perspective: Audio books won’t necessarily 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 sound signifies something. It’s a lot for your brain to absorb. The idea is that audiobooks are an excellent way to help your brain get used to that process again, especially if you’re breaking in a brand-new pair of hearing aids.
Here are a few ways audiobooks can assist with auditory training:
- Listening comprehension: It’s one thing to perceive 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 joining 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 of focus: You’ll be able to focus your attention longer, with a little help from your audiobook pals. After all, if you’re getting used to a new pair of hearing aids, it may have been a while since you last engaged in and listened to an entire conversation. 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 on social solitude which can cause communication skills to atrophy. Audiobooks can help you get a handle on the pronunciation of words, making general communication a lot smoother!
- Perception of speech: When you listen to an audiobook, you get real-time practice comprehending someone else’s speech. But you also have a little more control than you would during a regular old conversation. You can rewind if you don’t understand something and listen to something as many times as you want to. This works quite well for practicing making out words.
- 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 using amazingly apt words. Maybe that guy standing outside the bar looks innocuous, or your dinner at that restaurant is sumptuous. Either way, audiobooks can help you pick the right word for the right situation.
Using audiobooks as aids to auditory training
WE recommend that, as you enjoy your audiobook, you also read along with a physical copy of the book as well. Your brain will adapt faster to new audio signals making those linguistic connections more robust. In essence, it’s a great way to strengthen your auditory training. That’s because audiobooks enhance hearing aids.
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. And you can hear them at any time on your phone.
And you can also get podcasts on nearly every topic in case you can’t find an audiobook you want to listen to. You can improve your hearing and enrich your mind at the same time!
Can I utilize my hearing aids to listen to audiobooks?
Many contemporary hearing aids are Bluetooth equipped. Meaning, you can pair your hearing aids with your cellphone, your speakers, your television, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device. With this, when you listen to an audiobook, you won’t need uncomfortable headphones over your hearing aids. Rather, you can listen directly through your hearing aids.
You’ll now get superior sound quality and increased convenience.
Ask us about how audiobooks can help with your auditory training
So if you believe your hearing might be starting to go, or you’re concerned about getting used to your hearing aids, consult us about audiobooks.