We’ve previously discussed how audiobooks can aid in the reading process, but a new study adds more depth to that topic.
In the July 28 edition of the online magazine The Conversation, neurologists weighed in on the topic of reading vs listening in the article “Do You Really Need to Read to Learn: What Neuroscience Says about Reading versus Listening.”
By using MRIs and EEGs to track the biological and social processes underlying both reading and listening, the researchers determined that the two methods of obtaining information share the same goal, but they’re not processed in the same way. So, while they’re both important components of acquiring information, they’re by no means interchangeable tasks.
Of the two, reading requires more cognitive effort. Your mind must recognize the shapes of letters, determine the words those letters make, and even how the words sound. You derive meaning from syntax (word order) and text’s visual structure, including punctuation marks and paragraph breaks.
However, with listening, you have less control over the material, as you’re required to work at the speed of the narrator. And that speech doesn’t always come as neatly separated words, so the brain needs to catch up with the speaker to determine meaning as the words go by; it works at a deficit. A listener also has to understand the speaker’s tone and how that affects meaning, and there are no visual clues to guide you.
Despite the increased cognitive load, text comes with two major advantages. First, you can proceed at your own speed, as quickly or as slowly as you need to process what you read. Second, reading offers an easier way to move around in the text. You can backtrack and reread, when necessary, and you can register a word or phrase’s placement on the page so you can obtain meaning from context.
Listeners rely more on memory for information, but studies show we only remember about 20% of what we hear. And listeners must be guided to the words’ meanings by the narrator and their proficiency with the material. It’s also a more passive form of obtaining information, where the material is presented to you instead of you seeking it out yourself.
So, which is better, reading or listening? Probably doing a bit of both, as each method of information seeking provides a different experience and requires a different set of skills. And the more experience you get with each, the more proficient you become at both.
Source:
[1] Jacob, Debbie. (28 September 2025). “Books: Listening vs Reading.” Newsday. Retrieved from https://newsday.co.tt/2025/09/28/books-listening-vs-reading.
