Refine Your Hearing With Audiobooks

Upon attaining hearing aids, people can experience a considerable improvement in their hearing abilities. Nevertheless, there is a need for some fine-tuning during follow-up appointments. As patients encounter diverse audio conditions in their everyday lives, they can pinpoint acoustic elements that appear inconsistent. During these follow-up sessions, feedback from the patient can help customize the hearing aid settings, adjusting them to meet specific conditions and needs. You can test new sounds at home with simple audio tools like MP3s and audiobooks, and you can use audio to help refine your hearing.

Audiobooks for Hearing: How Audiobooks Can Help You Adjust to New Hearing Aids

When people engage in conversation, the brain uses several critical processes. It prioritizes the speaker’s voice, filters out background noise, and attempts to connect the auditory signals to known words in memory. Prolonged hearing loss can result in the consistent misinterpretation or omission of certain words. Upon the introduction of hearing aids, the brain must re-acclimatize to recognize certain sounds. Audiobooks provide a distinct advantage by allowing listeners to concentrate exclusively on the articulated words, thereby minimizing distractions typically encountered in conversational settings, such as ambient noise. This format can facilitate refining audio comprehension skills in a more controlled environment. Audiobooks allow you to concentrate on a single voice before jumping into conversations. Anyone with hearing issues can derive significant benefits from audiobooks. For those utilizing cochlear implants, we advise you to consult your hearing health provider to determine the best methods for incorporating audiobooks into your training regimen.

Where You Can Find Audiobooks

Don’t panic. Audiobooks are not a high-cost resource; they are closer and more accessible than you might realize.

The local library

Accessing audiobooks through your local library can allow you to immerse yourself in a wide range of literary ventures at no cost. Library audiobooks are available without charge and encompass titles that can satisfy diverse preferences and interests. Whether you want thrillers, romances, or nonfiction, your local library likely possesses an extensive catalog ready for exploration.

Online

Listening to audiobooks online means enjoying them anytime, making it convenient for even the busiest life. These days, most libraries have websites or apps to look up, check out, and even download audiobooks. Many current models of hearing aids have built-in Bluetooth connections, making them even easier to access.

Getting Started

Starting with a book that you are already familiar with is an ideal place to begin with. Rereading a book you already know can be likened to returning to a comfortable chair after a vigorous walk. Each page can hold memories and provide the comfort of the familiar or even elicit a sense of nostalgia.

• Select a book you have a copy of, either in print or digital format, and follow along with the reader. This can help your brain recognize the words you are hearing.
• This kind of activity can be mentally exhausting, so start light and keep it short, to 20 to 30 minutes at the beginning.
• Look for alternative recordings if you are uncomfortable with the reader’s voice.
• Minimize background noise by selecting a quiet room, shutting doors, and closing windows.

Once you feel comfortable, consider challenging yourself further. Altering various aspects of your listening experience can help stimulate your brain in beneficial ways. This approach enhances cognitive engagement and provides valuable feedback to discuss with your provider.

• Once you do a read-along, listen to it again without the book.
• If a female voice narrated your first book, choose a male reader or one with a different accent for the next.
• Change something each time: switch genre, change locations, or introduce background noise in your surroundings.

Making the most of your new hearing aids doesn’t have to be a chore. Audiobooks can help you stretch your listening skills while having a good time. Once you’re ready to go past audiobooks, your audiologist can help you find the next step on your hearing health journey.