Hearing loss affects approximately 15% of adults in the United States. Many patients with hearing loss may struggle to stay connected to the world around them. This is where audiobooks can play a surprising role. They’re not just for entertainment or passing the time; audiobooks can also act as a form of auditory training that supports hearing health and sharpens auditory processing skills.
Understanding Auditory Processing and Hearing Loss
Auditory processing refers to the way our brain interprets sounds. When you live with untreated hearing loss, it can compromise your auditory processing abilities. You may find it especially hard to distinguish between similar words or to separate important sounds from background noise.
Hearing aids are designed to help by amplifying sounds, but they don’t solve everything. If the brain isn’t regularly stimulated with sounds, it can start to “forget” how to interpret them, leading to a phenomenon known as auditory deprivation. Auditory deprivation happens when the auditory system isn’t stimulated enough and starts to weaken. This is where audiobooks step in as an effective tool to keep the brain engaged.
How Audiobooks Support Auditory Training
Using audiobooks as a form of auditory training can help you improve your auditory processing skills in a few ways:
- Consistent speech exposure. You can train your brain to recognize speech patterns, words and sounds by listening to audiobooks regularly. Over time, this can improve the brain’s ability to process spoken language, even in noisy environments.
- Adjustable speed. Many audiobook apps allow you to adjust the playback speed, which can help you focus on understanding each word or phrase. You can initially slow the speech down and gradually speed it up as your brain grows reaccustomed to speech sounds.
- Understanding context. Listening to speech with an overarching plot can help your brain learn to recognize context clues and use them to fill in meaning. This skill is especially helpful when you miss a word or phrase during a conversation.
Tips for Making Audiobooks Work for You
If you’re considering using audiobooks to improve your hearing, here are a few tips to make the experience effective:
- Choose books with interesting plots to keep you engaged
- Start slow and gradually increase playback speed as your listening skills improve
- Keep the volume at a low to medium level to avoid causing any further damage to your hearing
- Play audiobooks through your hearing aids via Bluetooth® for easy listening
Whether you enjoy listening to audiobooks while cleaning the house, driving around town or jogging through Coleman Hill Park, these engaging stories can strengthen your auditory processing skills. For more information about managing your hearing loss, contact The ENT Center of Central Georgia today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
