Listening Books: A Game-Changer for Dyslexia
Dyslexia Sparks supports dyslexic individuals of all ages in Hull and East Riding to fulfil their potential through diagnostic dyslexia assessments, specialist tuition, training and advice. Their qualified team of specialised tutors and assessors is passionate about helping individuals with dyslexia and associated Specific Learning Difficulties (SPLDs) to thrive.
Imagine really, really wanting to read a story, but just not feeling that you’re able to? Or finding that when you do read it, it takes such hard work that you just can’t enjoy it? These are challenges that dyslexic learners often face. Finding books which match their skill level, but which also align with their interests, can also be hard. Yes, things are improving, and the range of books available to dyslexic learners is wider than ever, but picking up a book and scouring the pages can still be something that lots of dyslexic learners find little enjoyment in, with many even going so far as to say they hate it!
At Dyslexia Sparks we’re passionate about reading, not only because it’s a key life skill (and without it lots of daily activities can be really quite hard), but also because it can open up such a wide, wide world of imagination and enjoyment! Stories teach us about life, they can help us understand the world and the people around us, and they can even transport us to other places when our own world becomes a little hard to bear!
But all too often our dyslexic learners are reluctant to read, find it tiring, and have switched off from the enjoyment reading can bring – or never had it ignited! This is where Listening Books can be so powerful. By removing the need to physically read, audio books offer dyslexic learners the opportunity to access information and stories in a way which can be so much more enjoyable for them. And enjoyment is a key factor in making sure our dyslexic learners read more often – which has been widely linked to academic success.
Another great benefit of audio books is that they can actually improve reading skills – studies have shown that listening to audio books improves reading accuracy, school performance, and leads to a greater motivation to take part in school activities. And with academic text books also available, audio books can help level the playing field when it comes to accessing subject-specific knowledge.
Listening to books rather than regularly trying to decode unknown words helps children to focus on what’s happening – the content and the context. This helps to build their comprehension skills, which perhaps might otherwise be limited by them accessing books at the right level for their decoding skills. This access to a wider range of books also means that dyslexic learners will be exposed to more new words, helping to develop their vocabulary – this in turn can help with other skills, such as writing.
Other benefits include enjoying books which match verbal/spoken abilities (often a key strength for our dyslexic learners!), hearing books read fluently to in turn improve the learner’s own fluency skills, and, often of key importance, removing some of the anxiety around reading that so many dyslexic learners face.
And the best part – all of this can be accessed for FREE as a dyslexic learner via the Listening Books website! So, what are you waiting for? The next audio adventure is just a click away!
Find out more about the work of Dyslexia Sparks and access lots of helpful resources for dyslexic learners on their website.
Listening Books provides access to over 8,000 audiobooks for all ages and interests for anyone whose illness, disability, mental health condition or learning difficulty affects their ability to read or hold a book. This includes dyslexia and other SPLDs. With an annual membership costing just £20 a year or free if this fee would be a barrier to joining, we are passionate about helping more people to access the joy of books. Click here to find out more.
Author: Jane Craig, Founding Director of Dyslexia Sparks
Editor: Annabel Morgan
(Image provided with permissions by Dyslexia Sparks)
