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The last few books we've read aloud have been because DD started them on audible and then said she wasn't getting it.   She says she understands much better when I read the books to her. 

 

I read fast.

I do some voices but I don't go crazy with it (I am definitely not monotone at all though).

I do not define words as I go along unless she asks me - which is maybe once per session.

I do not 'discuss' what is happening -  there is very little commentary as I read, just me reading.   (I would actually like to do this a bit more but it hasn't worked out for us so far)

If it appears she is not listening I will ask her to tell me what is happening - and she always can (this happens at least a few times a week).

 

So I am not understanding the difference between my reading and the audible reading (except that my reading is 'worse' imo LOL!).   Any thoughts?  Ramping up the amount of read aloud time probably will not happen - so I feel like I need to figure out what is the issue here.  

 

It's true that the last two books where this was an issue were either slightly 'above' her listening level or not good as a 'read aloud' --  I wish there was somewhere that rated books on how hard they were 'style'-wise (vs. word wise such as AR or lexile).   

 

The only other theory I have come up with is hearing related - that she understands me better - the way the parents/siblings understand the beginning speaker better than those outside the family.

 

FWIW the last books were:

A Wrinkle in Time - she has listened to this many times after I read it to her

Dragonsong - this one was above her listening level imo even when I read it - she understood it, but she wasn't getting any of the nuances  (we started Dragonsinger after and gave up halfway through - it was too much about relationships and not enough 'action')

Chasing Vermeer - we are in the midst of this one - and I know she listened to almost the whole thing - and then said "Mom, I really want you to read this book to me"  -  this book is not great as a 'read aloud' imo

 

 

 

 

 

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Maybe she just prefers the time you are spending reading to her over listening to a book alone? I don't know, I never used audio books. I'm sure we could have goe through a lot more books, but my daughter and I just liked it when I read out loud to her.

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Maybe she just prefers the time you are spending reading to her over listening to a book alone? I don't know, I never used audio books. I'm sure we could have goe through a lot more books, but my daughter and I just liked it when I read out loud to her.

 

It's not an either or - we have read aloud everyday and she listens to audio books as she's falling asleep and listens randomly during the day.   She is the one who picked out an audio version of Chasing Vermeer at the library and listened to it before requesting it as a read loud.   Audio books are totally a free choice thing for her (although I have been thinking of assigning audio-books - probably part of the reason I started paying more attention to what she is listening to).

 

Also, she has specifically said multiple times that she finds it easier to understand when I am reading it. 

 

Maybe her mind is wandering?  Have you tried increasing the playback speed a bit?

Wow! This never occurred to me - if anything I was thinking maybe she should slow it down  (even though I have been listening to a Stanford course on 1.5 speed because it seems sooo slow otherwise!)  

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Yes, I didn't mean on topic - most of these books I wouldn't even know where to look for something on topic lol! She has a meant for adults coloring book she colors in sometimes while I read, or sometimes she knits.  Something that is rather mindless - just enough to take the edge off.   She has a few things she gets out on her own when I am reading.  She was walking around doing this and that when listening to Chasing Vermeer - but I bet some of the things she was doing were not quite mindless enough.

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My guys preferred I read to them too, but that (I think) was because we would sit side-by-side and cuddle-up on the couch while reading together.  It was more of a solitary pursuit to use an audiobook independently.  You don't say how old your DD is, but my guys were 12+ yrs old before they WANTED to work independently.  I like OhElizabeth's suggestion to speed up the playback too.. if that doesn't work, then maybe you could try slowing it down.  Maybe if you can match the speed to be similar to your read aloud speed? Hope you find a good solution! 

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No, she does not look at my face while we are reading.  We sit next to each other or she lays down.  She sometimes colors, draws or knits - maybe 1/3 the days.

 

Black-eyed Susan hit one of my concerns on the head - is it something about my voice being more familiar and therefore more understandable -  I think I will have to schedule a hearing appt.  In the past she has tested in the normal range but at the lower end (by a hearing dr- not by the school or dr. office) - so could be something more like covd type thing I suppose? 

 

note:

I do think she values the time together - but that time is unaffected -- it is not less because of her listening to books on her own, nor is it more because of her requesting this book.    All requesting this book  does is push other books she is interested in out further - it is a net negative for her.   When I have asked her about it - for each book, she has said the same thing - that she understands it better when I read it to her.  

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Cat, I did some more calling around to audiologists recently, because this whole thing with how my dd gets worn out with loud noises, gets aggravated by her brother, etc. was confusing me as to whether that is sensory or and APD kind of thing or what.  I found an audiologist in the big city who is a bit newer but who does both hearing aids and CAPD evals (with a booth, proper).  She was really interesting to talk to, and maybe a person like that could bridge your concerns?  She said that she finds with doing hearing aids that some people just have sort of a higher or lower set point for what they need.  

 

Have you tried earbuds with her? 

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Maybe you could try something?

Record yourself reading, and then have her listen to it when you play it back.

Where it would be interesting to see whether it makes a difference, when it is your voice?

 

But something else I would ask about when she listens to the audio readings?

Is if you are their listening with her?

As quite possibly you are not sitting listening with her?

In which case, perhaps you could try listening with her. 

To see whether it makes a difference when you are not just there, but also listening with her?

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Out of 6 children only my youngest child likes audio books.  All my other children preferred to have me read to them.  I also read aloud very quickly.  I found out that my youngest listens to most of his audio books at 1.5 speed, so maybe that explains it?  I think that they prefer our voices because it is what they heard first.  I try to listen to samples of audio books because I hate tinny recordings and a hissing sound on the letter s will make me cringe.  My son also prefers to follow along with the book while listening.  It helps keep his mind on the story.

 

HTH

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Due to the kindle thread I asked DD to read a book via immersion reading (one she had listened to many, many times) -- and on her own she upped the speed to 1.25.  Then I bought 3 new audible books in the children's book sale (I'm considering a lot more but I already had these 3 on my list) - and last night when I go into DD's room for late night check, her kindle is running one of them at 1.5 speed -  so I guess upping the speed works for her lol!  

 

It's nice to see DD trying out things on her own too - instead of just when suggested/pushed by me.

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Due to the kindle thread I asked DD to read a book via immersion reading (one she had listened to many, many times) -- and on her own she upped the speed to 1.25.  Then I bought 3 new audible books in the children's book sale (I'm considering a lot more but I already had these 3 on my list) - and last night when I go into DD's room for late night check, her kindle is running one of them at 1.5 speed -  so I guess upping the speed works for her lol!  

 

It's nice to see DD trying out things on her own too - instead of just when suggested/pushed by me.

:hurray:  :hurray:  :hurray:

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My boys much prefer me reading to Audible--I subscribed and we did a few books and it was not a success.  I think they enjoy the time together, I make eye contact every now and then, I might stop and laugh at something or make a comment.

 

I get it--I hate audio books too--very impersonal.  Although it sure would save some time sometimes . . .

 

I don't think they got any more out of an audio book vs. reading it themselves--they lost the read-aloud advantage when they had to listen to an audio version, not me.

 

Betsy

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The Eides recommend upping audio speed in their book the Dyslexic Advantage because internal reading speed is faster than read out loud speed.  They specifically suggest that students practice listening to audio books at a higher rate to assist with getting through college reading requirements.

 

 

 

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I had the same experience. 

 

I think it is a combination of things. That I read about twice as fast (or maybe even faster) that the standard audiobook (can anyone actually stand to listen to those things?) I think accounts for some of it.  I've noticed when I listen to someone who speaks very slowly (or who is reading slowly) that things start to fall out of my working memory.  Also, and maybe this is more important, When I read to my son, I knew what words or phrases would trip him up, so I would slow down and speak distinctly.  And then pause afterwords.  And maybe even (through rarely) ask a follow up question.

 

That sort of thing.

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This has been so helpful! I gave up on audiobooks for my dd14 who seems to hate every audiobook!  She is a very fast reader but won't read some classics so I bought a Kindle and the only one she did listen to was Caeser for a class this past year.  

 

I had no idea you could speed them up... I appreciate the advice to allow sculpting or another activity while listening.  

 

We have always done pattern blocks, and legos during memory work cd time.  

 

Now that I have High Schoolers I have waited until late at night to try audio books for the older dc.  My brain can't function without a plan.  

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