In the past they were known as “books-on-tape”. Back then, obviously, we didn’t even have CDs let alone streaming services. Nowadays, people call them audiobooks (which, we won’t lie, is a far better name).
An audiobook gives you the ability to read a book by, well, listening to it. It’s a bit like when you were a kid and a parent or teacher read to you. You can engage with new concepts, get swept up in a story, or discover something new. Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time and enhance your mind.
And they’re also a great tool for audio training.
What’s auditory training?
So you’re most likely rather curious about what exactly auditory training is. It sounds complex and an awful lot like school.
As a specialized form of listening, auditory training is designed to give you a better ability to perceive, process, and distinguish sounds (known medically as “auditory information”). We often talk about auditory training from the context of getting used to a pair of hearing aids.
Because untreated hearing loss can cause your hearing to become used to a quieter environment and your brain can grow out of practice. So when you get a new set of hearing aids, your brain suddenly has to deal with an influx of extra information. When this takes place, your brain will find it difficult, at first, to process all those new sounds as well as it should. As a result, auditory training frequently becomes a useful exercise. Also, for individuals who are dealing with auditory processing disorders or have language learning challenges, auditory training can be a helpful tool.
Think of it like this: 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 created to help your brain get used to making sense out of sounds again. Humans have a fairly complex relationship with noise if you really think about it. Every sound means something. Your brain needs to do a lot of work. So if you’re breaking in a new pair of hearing aids, listening to audiobooks can help your brain get used to hearing and understanding again.
Here are a number of ways audiobooks can help with auditory training:
- Improvements of focus: You’ll be able to focus your attention longer, with a little help from your audiobook friends. After all, if you’re getting accustomed to a new set of hearing aids, it may have been a while since you last took part in and listened to a full conversation. You may need some practice tuning in and remaining focused, and audiobooks can help you with that.
- Improvements in pronunciation: You’ll frequently need practice with more than only the hearing part. Hearing loss can often bring about social isolation which can cause communication skills to atrophy. Audiobooks can make communication a lot easier by helping you get a grip on pronunciation.
- Listening comprehension: Perceiving speech is one thing, comprehending it is another thing entirely. Audiobooks give you practice processing and understanding what is being spoken about. Your brain needs practice connecting words to concepts, and helping those concepts remain rooted in your mind. In your everyday life, this will help you understand what people are saying to you.
- Perception of speech: Audiobooks will help you get accustomed to hearing and comprehending speech again. During normal conversations, however, you will have far less control than you will with an audiobook. You can listen to sentences numerous times in order to distinguish them. This works quite well for practicing making out words.
- A bigger vocabulary: Most people would love to expand their vocabulary. The more words you’re exposed to, the bigger your vocabulary will become. Impress your friends by throwing out amazingly apt words. Perhaps that guy standing outside the bar looks innocuous, or your meal at that restaurant is sumptuous. Either way, audiobooks can help you find 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 too. This will help make those linguistic associations stronger in your brain, and your brain could adapt faster to the new auditory inputs. In other words, it’s a great way to strengthen your auditory training. That’s because audiobooks complement hearing aids.
It’s also very easy to get thousands of audiobooks. There’s an app called Audible which you can get a subscription to. A wide variety of online vendors sell them, and that includes Amazon. Anywhere you find yourself, you can cue one up on your phone.
Plus, 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 together.
Can I utilize my hearing aids to play audiobooks?
Many contemporary hearing aids are Bluetooth equipped. So all of your Bluetooth-enabled devices, including your phone, your television, and your speakers, can be connected with your hearing aids. This means you don’t need to put huge headphones over your hearing aids just to play an audiobook. You can utilize your hearing aids for this instead.
You’ll now get superior sound quality and increased convenience.
Ask us about how audiobooks can help with your auditory training
So if you think your hearing might be starting to go, or you’re worried about getting accustomed to your hearing aids, consult us about audiobooks.
