Back in the old days they were called “books-on-tape”. Back then, obviously, we didn’t even have CDs never mind streaming services. Nowadays, people call them audiobooks (which, to be honest, is a far better name).
An audiobook gives you the ability to read a book by, well, listening to it. It’s a lot like having somebody read a book out loud to you (okay, it’s precisely that). You’ll be able to discover new things, get lost in an enchanting story, and experience ideas you never knew about. Audiobooks are an excellent way to pass the time and enhance your mind.
And they’re also a terrific tool for audio training.
Auditory training – what is it?
Wait, wait, wait, what’s this auditory training thing, you may ask? It sounds tedious like homework.
As a specialized form of listening, auditory training is designed to give you a better ability to perceive, process, and understand sounds (known medically as “auditory information”). One of the primary uses of auditory training is to help people learn to hear with their new hearing aids.
That’s because when you have unaddressed hearing loss, your brain can gradually grow out of practice. (Your auditory centers become used to being in a less noisy environment.) So your brain will need to deal with a significant influx of new auditory information when you get new hearing aids. When this occurs, your brain will find it hard, 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 people who are dealing with auditory processing disorders or have language learning difficulties, auditory training can be a helpful tool.
Another perspective: It’s not so much that audiobooks can sharpen your hearing, it’s that they can help you better understand what you hear.
When you listen to audiobooks, what happens?
Auditory training was designed to help your brain get accustomed to making sense out of sounds again. If you think about it, humans have a very complicated relationship with noise. Every single sound signifies something. Your brain has to do a lot of work. The idea is that audiobooks are an ideal way to help your brain get used to that process again, especially if you’re breaking in a brand-new set of hearing aids.
Here are a few ways audiobooks can help with auditory training:
- Perception of speech: When you listen to an audiobook, you get real-time practice understanding somebody else’s speech. But you also have a bit more control than you would during a regular old conversation. You can listen to sentences numerous times in order to distinguish them. This works quite well for practicing following words.
- Improvements of focus: With a little help from your audiobook, you’ll stay focused and involved for longer periods of time. Maybe it’s been some time since you’ve been able to participate in a complete conversation, particularly 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.
- A bigger vocabulary: Most individuals would love to expand their vocabulary. The more words you’re subjected to, the bigger your vocabulary will become. Surprise your friends by using amazingly apt words. Perhaps 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.
- 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 talked about. Your brain requires practice helping ideas take root in your mind by practicing linking those concepts to words. In your everyday life, this will help you distinguish what people are saying to you.
- Improvements in pronunciation: In some cases, it’s not just the hearing part that can need some practice. Hearing loss can often bring on social isolation which can cause communication skills to atrophy. Audiobooks can help you get a grip on the pronunciation of words, making general communication much smoother!
Audiobooks as auditory aids
Reading along with a physical copy of your audiobook is definitely advisable. Your brain will adjust faster to new audio inputs making those linguistic links more robust. In other words, it’s the perfect way to reinforce your auditory training. Because hearing aids are enhanced by audiobooks.
It’s also really easy to get thousands of audiobooks. You can subscribe to them on an app called Audible. You can instantly purchase them from Amazon or other online sellers. And you can listen to them anywhere 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 sharpen your hearing and improve your mind simultaneously!
Can I use my hearing aids to play audiobooks?
Bluetooth functionality is a feature that comes with many modern hearing aids. So all of your Bluetooth-enabled devices, including your phone, your television, and your speakers, can be paired with your hearing aids. This means you don’t have to put cumbersome 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.
Consult us about audiobooks
So come in and talk to us if you’re worried about having difficulty getting used to your hearing aids or if you believe you might be experiencing hearing loss.
