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What Are the Pros and Cons of Auditory Learning?

Lily Ruha
Lily Ruha

The advantages that can be gained from auditory learning include well-developed listening and presentation skills, and the disadvantages of this learning method include auditory distractions and difficulty with detailed written material. Auditory learners excel in interactive approaches to learning that involve storytelling, role-playing and dialogue. This style of learning also facilitates passive learning activities, such as listening to a lecture while driving or exercising. The challenges that are experienced by auditory learners include processing large amounts of detailed written information or instructions. Greater sensitivity to sound also exists for auditory learners, sometimes making it difficult to concentrate in noisy environments.

Auditory learning methods include listening to and verbalizing information. Listening to a lecture and discussing the information in a study group is one example of this learning style. Engaging in storytelling activities that reinforce material is a common learning method. Auditory learners typically solve problems by working through issues out loud. The advantages of this learning style when studying a new language include greater mastery of pronunciation and the understanding of spoken language through the use of videos, dialogue and role-playing activities.

Hearing is an important factor for students with an auditory learning style.
Hearing is an important factor for students with an auditory learning style.

Other advantages of the auditory learning style are the abilities to multitask and to learn in enjoyable ways. Without a great need to read or write down information, an auditory learner can listen to a lecture while driving to work. People who use this learning style can also listen to instrumental music while studying without experiencing much distraction. Creating musical tunes assists this type of learner with memorizing new information. Speaking concepts into a recorder allows the auditory learner to quickly process new ideas that can later be typed out for class assignments.

Writing the alphabet may be more challenging for those with an auditory learning style.
Writing the alphabet may be more challenging for those with an auditory learning style.

The challenges of the auditory learning style include processing visual information. Auditory learners typically are slower readers than visual learners. Processing detailed written information might be more challenging for people who learn in this manner, and they might require explanations or discussion. Courses that convey information in the form of graphs and other visual illustrations are sometimes more challenging for auditory learners. When learning a new language, the task of learning how to write a new alphabet or mastering details such as accent mark placement are often more challenging for people who use this learning style.

Auditory learning methods include listening to and verbalizing information.
Auditory learning methods include listening to and verbalizing information.

Other disadvantages of auditory learning are related to sensitivity to both the presence of and the absence of sounds. A learner who is accustomed to hearing and discussing information might have difficulty with silent activities such as test-taking or online learning, which might involve long periods of reading and writing. The presence of some sounds also can be problematic; studying in a noisy coffee shop or while listening to vocal music is sometimes distracting for people who use this learning style.

Discussion Comments

anon348866

Thanks for sharing this article. It is very useful for me. Actually, I need to find out information about the combination of storytelling and music instruments.

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    • Hearing is an important factor for students with an auditory learning style.
      By: elisabetta figus
      Hearing is an important factor for students with an auditory learning style.
    • Writing the alphabet may be more challenging for those with an auditory learning style.
      By: alphaspirit
      Writing the alphabet may be more challenging for those with an auditory learning style.
    • Auditory learning methods include listening to and verbalizing information.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Auditory learning methods include listening to and verbalizing information.
    • Presentation skills may be gained from auditory learning.
      By: sneksy13
      Presentation skills may be gained from auditory learning.
    • Auditory learners have a greater sensitivity to sound and may not be able to concentrate in noisy environments.
      By: Syda Productions
      Auditory learners have a greater sensitivity to sound and may not be able to concentrate in noisy environments.
    • Children who have difficulties with auditory discrimination may also have trouble reading.
      By: Arkady Chubykin
      Children who have difficulties with auditory discrimination may also have trouble reading.
    • Auditory learners may struggle with certain aspects of learning a new language.
      By: michaeljung
      Auditory learners may struggle with certain aspects of learning a new language.