Audiobooks are not the first thing that comes to mind with declining hearing, but audiobooks can help hearing. You can boost your listening skills by reading and listening at the same time. This method of auditory rehab retrains your brain to process and interpret sound. Unlike everyday conversations, reading while listening “checks” your hearing in real time. This is particularly helpful for those new to wearing hearing aids.

Auditory rehab also minimizes hearing loss and listening fatigue. Listening fatigue is the mental exhaustion that occurs when following conversations with declining hearing, and while adjusting to a new device. 

3 Types of Sound Processing 

There are 3 types of sound processing in the brain that translate speech and music into words, song lyrics, and melodies. Audiobooks can improve auditory comprehension by practicing at least the first 2 types of sound processing below. 

1. Tonotopy: Mapping Frequencies

Your brain creates a spatial map of sound frequencies to help you process different pitches and tones. Lower frequencies are processed in anterior regions of your brain, and higher frequencies are processed in posterior regions. 

2. Speech Processing

This is the complex process by which the brain translates phonemes and syllables into words. The tonotopy regions of your brain work with non-auditory regions to interpret semantics and syntax. Speech processing in the brain also identifies who and what to listen to in environments with heavy background noise. 

3. Music Processing

Different types of music engage different regions of the brain to process sounds of nature, instruments, lyrics, and other music. Music processing also intersects with the areas of the brain that process emotion. 

How Audiobooks Hone Your Hearing

Leveraging audiobooks for auditory rehab may inspire you to cross a few books off your reading list. The tips below help you adjust to new hearing aids and may help maintain existing hearing.  

• Purchase (or check out) both the audiobook and the print or eBook so that you can read along while you listen. Yes, you can check out audiobooks and eBooks from your local library or an online library app! 
• If your hearing aids are new, minimize listening fatigue by choosing a children’s book. 
• Before you make your purchase or check out a library book, listen to an audio sample, prioritizing readers with a lower pitch/deeper voice.
• Read and listen in an area without background noise and while wearing your hearing aids. 
• Play the book at a slower speed to begin with. Gradually adjust the speed to where you can comfortably follow along.
• Listen for 20 to 30 minutes at a time to minimize listening fatigue, but feel free to continue reading your physical book or eBook.

Benefits of Practicing with Children’s Books

• The stories are simple, minimizing listening fatigue.
• Stories are short, so it is easy to fit reading in your schedule. 
• The reader is more likely to read slowly and annunciate words. 
• Books with songs and poetry activate more regions of the brain. 

Auditory Training Tools Other Than Audiobooks

Combining audiobooks and hearing therapies mixes things up and achieves different auditory objectives and personal goals. 

YouTube Books

Go to YouTube on a desktop or laptop, and type “children’s books” into the search bar. You will find a long list of books to choose from. StorylineOnline is a top choice, featuring books read by Hollywood actors. Click on the “cc” button on the bottom right of the video screen so you can read along with closed captioning. Be mindful that the closed captioning is not perfectly timed.

Auditory Training Apps

There are a range of reasons to use auditory training apps. From learning to use your new device to expanding youth vocabulary, minimizing tinnitus, and improving comprehension and clarity of sound. Learn the top auditory training apps for each objective. 

Music Therapy

Music therapy and hearing loss training provide secondary benefits, including auditory, physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and emotional benefits. Therapy includes any combination of singing, playing instruments, dance, and listening to music. For the best results, participate in group activities or one-on-one instruction. Listening to white noise or sounds of nature (pink noise) minimizes the ringing in the ears caused by tinnitus. 

In ages 54+, benefits expand to improving:

• Pitch processing
• Speech perception
• Posture, balance, and mobility
• Verbal fluency and visual processing

Let’s Discuss How to Use Audiobooks for Auditory Rehab  

A tailored approach is always the best approach. If you live in or around Holmdel, New Jersey or Staten Island, New York, schedule an appointment with Audiologist Dr. Stella Fulman. She will complete a comprehensive exam and diagnose and treat your auditory concern. Your tailored treatment plan may include using apps, music, and audiobooks for improved hearing. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can audiobooks really help improve my hearing?

Audiobooks can’t restore lost hearing, but they can train your brain to process sound more efficiently. Reading and listening at the same time strengthens the connection between what you hear and what you understand — a key step in auditory rehabilitation, especially for new hearing aid users.

2. How often should I listen to audiobooks for auditory training?

Start small — about 20 to 30 minutes a day is ideal. This helps improve listening focus without causing fatigue. As your brain adapts, you can increase your listening time or gradually raise the playback speed.

3. What types of audiobooks are best for beginners?

Children’s books are perfect if you’re new to hearing aids or auditory training. They use simple language, slower narration, and clear pronunciation, which makes it easier for your brain to recognize tones, rhythm, and syllables.

4. Should I listen with or without my hearing aids?

Always wear your hearing aids while listening to audiobooks. This helps your brain adjust to amplified sound and learn how to filter speech from background noise. Listening without your devices won’t provide the same training benefit.

5. Are audiobooks the only auditory training tool I should use?

No — audiobooks are one tool among many. Auditory training apps, music therapy, and guided listening exercises can all complement your progress. A personalized plan from an audiologist ensures you’re using the right mix for your specific goals and hearing level.