Read v Listen - Are there any health ramifications

BetterRed · 07-19-2025, 07:35 PM

Asking for a friend:

Quote:

Are there any health benefits to audiobooks instead of reading? I’ve been doing both. I like my audio books too.

BR

cromag · 07-19-2025, 08:38 PM

If you're driving a car, definitely!

In all seriousness, I don't know. I can think of health conditions that would make one more convenient than the other -- vision difficulties, hearing difficulties, etc. -- but I've never considered that the the choice of one over the other might affect health. I'd be interested in learning this, myself.

nana77 · 07-19-2025, 10:09 PM

I'm not an expert, but I think that reading it by yourself makes the books and its characters be being voiced within yours; you would more likely give to the characters a tone from your imagination tought.
If that might do some changes in own build personality, I don't know..

DNSB · Yesterday, 06:34 PM

For what it may be worth, for me, listening to an audio book while driving would definitely turn me into a road hazard. I tend to get lost in the book while reading or listening so I'd be a distracted driver.

Otherwise, I've seen one "study" which claimed that reading could cause eye damage. Not peer reviewed and very non-scientific since most of the "study" consisted of reporting anecdotal evidence (my aunt's 2nd cousin once removed had a friend who had a cousin who went blind from reading in poor light type of stuff).

Sirtel · Yesterday, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Otherwise, I've seen one "study" which claimed that reading could cause eye damage. Not peer reviewed and very non-scientific since most of the "study" consisted of reporting anecdotal evidence (my aunt's 2nd cousin once removed had a friend who had a cousin who went blind from reading in poor light type of stuff).

Yeah. That's what they all told me throughout all the years of my childhood. I was an avid reader since age three and also had poor eyesight (presumably for genetic reasons). Endless repeating of the song "read less, or you'll go blind" both by doctors and my frightened parents. Fortunately my parents were softies and never tried to physically stop me from reading, and I am not yet blind...

07-19-2025, 10:09 PM	#3
nana77 Groupie Posts: 191 Karma: 333516 Join Date: May 2025 Device: Kobo Forma	I'm not an expert, but I think that reading it by yourself makes the books and its characters be being voiced within yours; you would more likely give to the characters a tone from your imagination tought. If that might do some changes in own build personality, I don't know.. Last edited by nana77; 07-19-2025 at 10:31 PM.

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07-19-2025, 08:38 PM	#2
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,294 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	If you're driving a car, definitely! In all seriousness, I don't know. I can think of health conditions that would make one more convenient than the other -- vision difficulties, hearing difficulties, etc. -- but I've never considered that the the choice of one over the other might affect health. I'd be interested in learning this, myself.

Yesterday, 06:34 PM	#4
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,220 Karma: 168983734 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	For what it may be worth, for me, listening to an audio book while driving would definitely turn me into a road hazard. I tend to get lost in the book while reading or listening so I'd be a distracted driver. Otherwise, I've seen one "study" which claimed that reading could cause eye damage. Not peer reviewed and very non-scientific since most of the "study" consisted of reporting anecdotal evidence (my aunt's 2nd cousin once removed had a friend who had a cousin who went blind from reading in poor light type of stuff).

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