Using Audiobooks to Enhance Your Hearing Skills

Hearing Improvement: A Continuous Journey

When you start using hearing aids, you'll notice a significant improvement in your hearing. However, achieving optimal hearing is a continuous process that requires fine-tuning. Follow-up appointments with your hearing care professional are essential to adjust your hearing aids based on the different environments and sounds you encounter. This personalized tweaking ensures your hearing aids perfectly suit your unique needs.

One effective at-home tool to aid this process is the audiobook.

The Benefits of Audiobooks with Hearing Aids

Listening to speech involves your brain focusing on the voice, filtering out background noise, and recognizing words. If you've experienced hearing loss for an extended period, certain words may have been missed or misunderstood. With hearing aids, your brain needs to relearn these sounds.

Audiobooks allow you to concentrate on spoken words without the distractions of a real-life conversation. Plus, they offer the added benefit of being able to rewind and listen again.

How to Use Audiobooks for Hearing Aid Adjustment?

Also Read: How Do Rechargeable Hearing Aids Work?

Visit Your Local Library:

Audiobooks are readily accessible and affordable through your local library. Borrowing audiobooks from the library opens up a vast array of literary experiences at no cost. Libraries offer a wide selection of genres, catering to every interest, whether you enjoy thrilling mysteries, romantic stories, or insightful non-fiction.

For those who prefer a digital format, most libraries provide apps for downloading audiobooks directly to your device. Many modern hearing aids can even stream audio via Bluetooth, making it easier to listen on the go. If you use a cochlear implant, consult your audiologist for the best way to incorporate audiobooks into your listening practice.

Start with Familiar Books:

Audiobooks help you focus on a single voice, easing you into real-life conversations. Begin with a book you already know. Revisiting familiar stories can feel comforting, like returning to a favorite spot. The predictability of a known book provides a sense of stability, making it easier for your brain to process the words.

Here are some tips to get started:

• Choose a book you have in print or e-book form and follow along with the narrator. This helps reinforce the connection between spoken and written words.

Also Read: Top 8 Tips for Maintaining Your Hearing Aids

• Limit your listening sessions to 20-30 minutes initially to avoid fatigue.

• Test the narrator's voice with a sample to ensure it's comfortable for you.

• Listen in a quiet room with minimal distractions. 

• Gradually Challenge Yourself

As you become more comfortable, introduce new listening challenges. Varying your listening experiences can help train your brain to adapt to different sounds and situations. This practice is not only beneficial but also provides useful feedback for your hearing care professional.

Once you're ready, try these steps:

• Re-listen to a favorite book without following the text.

• Choose a new book you've read before but don't follow along.

• Switch narrators between books (e.g., from a male to a female voice).

• Gradually introduce background noise to your listening environment.

Enjoy the Journey

Improving your hearing with hearing aids is a rewarding journey. Why not make it enjoyable by diving into books you've always wanted to read? Audiobooks offer a fun and engaging way to enhance your listening skills while enjoying literature.

 Book a Free Hearing Test & Trial at Aanvii Hearing 

When you're ready to explore more advanced hearing exercises, contact your audiologist. They can provide additional guidance to further improve your hearing capabilities. For more information call us at 96 5839 5839 or visit Aanvii Hearing.