I consider myself a primarily visual learner, but my eyes and brain don’t always agree with that. Factors like eye strain, fluctuating eyesight, and fatigue from reading can make it more challenging for me to study visual materials, which means I often pivot to audio access and utilize study tips for auditory learners to reduce the amount of visual demands I place on my eyes. Here is a list of the best study tips for auditory learners and tips for accessing study materials through audio modalities that promote nonvisual access, from a visually impaired student.
Read text content with text-to-speech
Reading text can be very visually demanding, especially when it comes to reading large blocks of text or small print sizes. Using reading tools like text-to-speech and read aloud can provide a much-needed vision break or provide options for word-level highlighting to follow along with text. I prefer using text-to-speech when studying over a screen reader, as I often don’t need the additional navigational controls or system information that is read out loud by a screen reader. Plus, the text-to-speech voices are often more natural sounding compared to the more synthesized/robotic tone of screen reader software.
Examples of free and paid applications that can be used for reading text content with text-to-speech include:
- Read aloud, Spoken Content, and Select-to-speak settings available on Windows, iOS/iPadOS, and Android platforms.
- Simplified reading displays like Immersive Reader, Google Reading Mode, and Safari Reading View, which also display content visually on a plain background.
- Text-to-speech reading applications like Voice Dream Reader, VDWrite, and Capti.
- Web extensions like Helperbird or Snap&Read, which can be used for accessing web content.
Additionally, some research databases offer MP3 audio downloads of articles or options for read aloud embedded within articles- I talk more about this in my post on reading research articles with assistive technology linked below.
Related links
- How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology
- How To Use Text-To-Speech With Low Vision
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- Capti Voice Narrator App For Low Vision
- Tips For Using VDWrite In The Classroom With Low Vision
Listen to a podcast or audio-centric content
Podcasts, audiobooks, radio interviews, and other audio-centric content is designed with nonvisual access in mind and can provide valuable insight into a topic of interest without relying on visuals or movement to understand what is going on. There are several educational podcasts and programs that cover all sorts of topics, ranging from kid-friendly lessons about math to conversations with subject matter experts on more complex topics.
As a student studying data science and assistive technology, I’ve used podcasts a few different ways in my studies, including listening to explanations on how to solve problems presented in class, conversations with specialists or patients centered around rare diseases, promoting nonvisual access to information and different ways of learning, and interviews related to a book or article that I had been reading. It’s great to learn from these different perspectives, and many of these podcasts also include transcripts I can use to follow along with if desired.
I prefer to listen to podcasts on a smart speaker like my Amazon Echo Dot, because I can use voice controls to pause, speed up, or rewind content without having to reach for buttons. This also makes it easier for me to walk around or stretch while listening to content, instead of being stuck in a chair. Another bonus is that I can listen to text-to-speech enabled Kindle books on the Echo Dot as well, picking up from wherever I left off while reading.
Related links
- Language Learning Tips And Resources For Low Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smart Speakers
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Study For Exams
- Amazon Kindle App and Low Vision Accessibility
Describe an image and talk about different features
Audio narrated images combine voice recordings with pictures or video content to provide descriptions of visual content or to further elaborate on visual details. I use audio narrated images in multiple contents as a student with low vision, which can include listening to descriptions recorded by others to receive additional context and understand what is going on in an image, as well as creating my own narrations to go over the steps of a problem or share my own thought process.
Related links
- Creating Audio Narrated Images For Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Videos and Narrated Images With Clips
Convert online assignments into MP3 or use with read aloud
Anthology Ally is an external app /LTI plugin that is available across multiple learning management software programs, including Blackboard Learn, Canvas, Brightspace (Desire2Learn), and Open LMS (Moodle). For students, Anthology Ally can convert files posted within online classes into different formats, including MP3 audio files or HTML formats that can be used more effectively with text-to-speech- perfect for auditory learners or audio access!
To access Anthology Ally as a student:
- Open an individual page or document, such as a file, page, attachment, assignment, etc.
- Select the Anthology Ally icon (capital A) which is labeled as Alternative Formats
- Once selected, a menu will appear with a list of file formats that users can download. While only one file format can be selected at a time, the same file can be downloaded multiple times in different formats.
- Select the download button
To learn more about using Anthology Ally effectively, read my post on using Anthology Ally linked below.
Related links
- Using Anthology Ally With Low Vision
- Ten Ways To Reduce Eye Strain From Screens With Technology
- How I Use Canvas With Low Vision
- How I Use Blackboard With Low Vision
- How I Use Moodle With Low Vision
Turn off visuals and listen to audio only
Video lectures are a great tool that combine visuals alongside audio access, but sometimes it’s easier to prioritize listening to content, especially if the presenter is great about providing descriptive content. Using a screen curtain or turning off visual content in videos can be helpful for auditory learners who also have photophobia, photosensitivity, or other light sensitivity, especially to flashing lights or animations.
Some ideas for turning on a screen curtain or turning off video include:
- For iOS devices like iPhone and iPad, audio/video can be played while the screen is locked, though users will need to select the play button again on their lockscreen to continue playing audio after their device is locked. Another option is to enable picture-in-picture, and slide the video to the edge of the screen.
- Turn on audio description for videos (if available), which will provide descriptions of visual content during natural pauses in dialogue.
- Open video content in a new browser window, and minimize the window once the video starts to play
- Turn the screen to face the wall or cover it with something else
- Connect to a wireless speaker or headphones and dim the original screen for the device to listen to content in another space
For screen reader users, options for turning off the screen while preserving audio access may be referred to as Screen Curtain, Dim Screen, or Screen Shade. However, these cannot be activated unless the screen reader itself is turned on.
Related links
- Recording Video Lectures For Visually Impaired Students
- How I Take Notes During Video Lectures With Low Vision
- How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights
- Avoiding Flashing Lights On Social Media
Practicing flash cards with text-to-speech or Amazon Alexa
Flashcards are commonly included with other auditory learning study tips, because they can be used with spoken or pre-recorded audio. There are a few options for creating audio flash cards or listening to flash cards read out loud, including:
- Writing out flashcards by hand on index cards and having them read out loud by a study partner
- Creating or locating digital flashcards on a website like Quizlet, which can be accessed with text-to-speech. Brainfuse also offers flashcards through their FlashBulb section, which is free to access via participating institutions.
- Using Alexa Skill Blueprints to create auditory flashcards, which can be accessed on an Echo device and requires learners to answer questions out loud.
- Searching for audio flashcard applications, which may or may not include visual aids such as text or graphics. These typically include voices recorded by the student or human-read voices.
Related links
- How I Use Quizlet With Low Vision
- Brainfuse Online Tutoring and Low Vision Accessibility
- Creating Custom Flashcards With Amazon Alexa
Discuss the topic with someone else
Whether it’s through an in-person or online study group, or even just talking to another student, friend, or family member, discussing study topics or verbally going over the steps of a problem can be helpful for creating a deeper understanding of a topic, as well as finding new ways to explain issues or work through problems.
Another way to approach this is to attend an event/lecture on a topic of interest, either independently or with someone else, which can provide another perspective and foundation for conversation on a given topic. I’ve attended a mix of in-person events on my college campus as well as online events in an area I was interested in, and participated during the question and answer portion to get more insight on a topic, or contacted the speaker afterwards to learn more.
Sometimes, the conversation partner doesn’t even have to be a human- in the world of programming, “rubber duck debugging” is a common way to troubleshoot errors by talking through the existing code with a rubber duck serving as the silent conversation partner. This can also be helpful for summarizing or synthesizing what was covered in a specific study session or identifying gaps of knowledge that need to be addressed. While most “rubber duck debugging” is done with an actual rubber duck, I included a link to a prank from a few years ago that can also serve as a digital manipulative.
Related links
- QuackOverflow
- How I Set Up My Tech Internship Desk: PM Intern With Low Vision
- Activity Ideas For Vision Breaks
- April Fool’s Day Prank Lessons For Low Vision Assistive Technology
Create mnemonics
Mnemonic devices are a learning technique that can make it easier to store or recall information, which can be helpful for remembering the order of steps in a process or a series of complex details. Creating mnemonics that revolve around words, sentences, rhythms, or music can be helpful for auditory learners, more so than using visual techniques or graphical representations.
When I create verbal/auditory mnemonics, I like to incorporate familiar rhythms or music so they are easier for my brain to remember. Some examples include:
- Rewriting song lyrics to align with a specific topic, or singing/reciting information in a specific order
- Creating a playlist of music that incorporates rhythms or lyrical themes based on what I am studying, or that tie back to specific topics
- Using poetry/rhyming techniques
- Connecting first-letter mnemonics to song lyrics or song titles
Bonus idea: data sonification
When it comes to representing data, sonification and audio tracing is helpful for identifying patterns in data or trends/points of interest. When I was studying for trigonometry, I noticed that the sonification of different types of functions sounded similar to guitar riffs and instrumentals from songs that I enjoyed, so I would associate different functions with the names of songs or the bands/artists who composed them. I also found it easier to visualize the differences between functions visually when paired with music, though now I can’t listen to some of these songs without thinking about math!
Related links
- How To Describe Science Experiments For Visually Impaired Students
- Tuva Tools and Low Vision Accessibility
- Solar Eclipse Accessibility Resources: Assistive Technology For Blind and Low Vision
- ALEKS Accessibility For Visual Impairment
Wear headphones to block out competing sounds
One of the most valuable tips for auditory learners is to ensure that the focus is placed on “important” audio and essential auditory content, not on background noise or other distractions. Headphones can be a great way to block out excess noise or help with concentration, and I have an entire list of features to consider when buying headphones linked below.
For auditory learners in a classroom setting or for students that use a screen reader/nonvisual access, open-ear headphone designs like bone conducting headphones may be preferred, as this provides an option for listening to environmental audio as well as computer/device audio like text-to-speech or screen reader output while taking notes.
Related links
Use dictation to capture ideas and conversations
When preparing to write a paper for one of my classes, I set a timer for five minutes and started to monologue about the topic, including everything I already knew, what I wanted to learn, and areas that I wanted to make sure were covered in my paper. Sometimes I do this by typing, while other times I turn on dictation or an audio recording tool and just let the thoughts flow. This can also be helpful for narrowing down topics of interest, as I can listen to my voice and hear inflections related to excitement over a particular topic, or listen to the natural order in which I connect different topics.
Related links
- How To Use Dictation As Assistive Technology With Mainstream Devices
- How I Outline Research Papers With OneNote
Other study tips for auditory learners and audio access
- Recording classroom lectures is another great study option for auditory learning, but it often requires the student to have an approved disability accommodation. I mention this in my post Disability and Classroom Accommodations For POTS and talk more about disability accommodations in How To Create A Disability Services File
- Looking for audio-based entertainment ideas? Read Audio and Nonvisual Entertainment Ideas For Blind and Low Vision, Audio Workouts and Low Vision, and Audio Games For Blind/Low Vision Gamers
- Want more ideas on how to use virtual assistants and smart speakers like the Alexa? I share other ideas in Amazon Alexa Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published July 15, 2024. Updated September 2025