The Benefits of Audio Books

There often seems to be a bit of controversy over whether or not audio books fall into the category of “reading.”

While reading physical books engages more regions in the brain and supports decoding practice in ways that audio books do not, audio books do have a fair share of benefits worth considering.

ACCESS TO GRADE-LEVEL CONTENT

For students who have decoding deficits or a visual impairment, audio books are a gateway to accessing grade-level content so they can continue to build background knowledge and vocabulary. Having the ability to focus on high-level content reduces the cognitive load that is heavier when students are working to both decode and comprehend the words on a page. This is also true for English Language Learners.

MODELING

Audio book narrators model the rhythm of fluent reading. They demonstrate speed, intonation, phrasing, and pronunciation. They also show how inflection is used to showcase meaning and intention.

LISTENING AND ATTENTION SKILLS

Listening to a long-form narrative supports important listening and attention skills. With the rising concern of diminished attention spans in our youth, following a storyline lends opportunity to develop critical skills that social media reels and shorts have threatened.

CONNECTION WITH OTHERS

Listening to audio books together invites opportunities for shared experiences (regardless of decoding or visual ability). A family can listen to an audio book together on a car trip and use content as a vehicle for a shared discussion that hones language, social conversation, inferential thinking, and prediction skills.