Is Listening To An Audiobook The Same As Reading?

Santwana Mohanty

4 years ago

Ever wondered if listening to an audiobook is the same as reading one? Some people see audiobooks as cheating others rely on audiobooks because they’re convenient and an alternative way to old fashion reading.

The question is are they really the same until they provide the same benefits?

According to science, there are two main factors when reading

Factors of reading

– Decoding

It is the process of reading words in print and the sound each letter makes. When one reads, he/she starts out by hearing themselves read out loud in their heads.

The reason for this is when a child reads the words green apple, for example, it is necessary to understand what the letters are, the sounds made by each letter, and how they blend together to create words.

-Language processing

It is pretty much the same mental process, one uses to communicate with others and how they are processed and understood.

In terms of reading, this means that we use language processing to understand the dialogues and the plot in the book.

Basically, in terms of understanding, the only difference between listening to an audiobook and reading a physical book is that audiobooks do not require decoding.

Studies have discovered that reading and listening comprehension are pretty much the same.

Comparison of reading and listening

Reading

1) About 10 to 15% of eye movements during reading are actually regressive
2) It is easier to highlight something important, easier to take notes rather than listening to something over and over again.
3) There is something special about holding the physical book in our hands.

Why you should read books?

Audiobooks

1) Putting the speaker on pause or repeat something over again. So listening to an audiobook cheating? The answer is no!

It is like the same thing but a different choice.
Imagine if someone chose a car and another chose a bicycle to work; the bicycle rider calls the other a cheat. No, that does not work that way. They ultimately got to the destination.

The same goes for reading and listening to a book.

2) Multitasking is possible with listening to an audiobook.

3) You get through books more easily.

Audiobooks can help improve your comprehension and vocabulary. Hearing new words, independent of or in combination with reading them can significantly help with comprehension and vocabulary, especially for kids and second-language learners.

Conclusion

Reading a physical book and listening to the audiobook are two different paths that lead to the same destination. Each creates differing experiences and memories, but neither is better or worse than the other. Audiobooks can be great for kids too.

For the people who like to write down notes on the margins of books, audiobooks are of no use. Paper books are also great for those who are not good at remembering what they hear and have a better visual memory.

Audiobooks have the power to boost our moods and disrupt negative thinking patterns. Psychology Today notes that for those of us prone to anxiety and depression.

Listening to someone else read aloud can help by replacing negative thoughts with something else.
Audiobooks can help improve your comprehension and vocabulary. Hearing new words, independent of or in combination with reading them can significantly help with comprehension and vocabulary, especially for kids and second-language learners.

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