Audiobooks are a great way to make chores, errands and daily walks around Kreager Park more exciting. In addition to bringing on-the-go story time to your life, some people with hearing loss or auditory processing disorder find audiobooks to be an effective form of auditory training.
Understanding Auditory Training
Auditory training is a tool we use to help the brain process speech. It’s an effective tool for people with hearing loss who have been without treatment for a long time, or people with auditory processing disorder, where your ears hear but your brain doesn’t understand sound.[1]
The Benefits of Audiobooks
Not only do audiobooks help you reach your reading goal, but they also offer a steady stream of speech. You can control the speed, volume and narrator to ease your brain back into the practice of processing speech in a comfortable and low-stress way. If you’re interested in using audiobooks to improve speech processing, take the following tips into account:
- Find your speed. Some people understand speech more when it’s a little faster, others when it’s a little slower and still others at regular playback speed. Choose whichever speed is most comfortable for you.
- Pick the right narrator. All narrators have different voices, and you might find that some are easier to hear than others. That discrepancy arises because hearing loss affects different frequencies. Choose a narrator you find at least relatively easy to understand.
- Choose a familiar book. If you have an old favorite book, see if you can get it on audiobook. The familiar text will make it easier to follow along while you get back into the swing of listening.
- Connect to hearing aids. Hearing aids provide clearer speech. Modern hearing aids even connect to your phone via Bluetooth®, allowing you to stream your audiobooks right to your ears for seamless listening.
- Listen in a crowd. If you struggle to understand speech amidst a lot of background noise, try listening to your audiobook in a crowded café or another busy place for a little practice.
Audiobooks are just one supplemental tool that can help you process speech. Our specialists can put together an auditory training plan to boost your results—whether you’re dealing with hearing loss, auditory processing disorder or both. Contact Ear, Nose and Throat Associates to schedule your appointment today.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Auditory processing disorder. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24938-auditory-processing-disorder