I often find myself listening to audio versions of my favorite print books. As an MS patient, I have some mild cognitive impairments that make me easily distracted when trying to read. My attention span has gotten shorter as the years have gone by, and instead of throwing my hands up in frustration and giving up on reading, I pop a CD or cassette book into my portable stereo and put on a headset. This has worked well for me because I can really only concentrate on the speaker as I’m relaxing on my bed. I’ve found this works well for any abstract reads where I have to give my full attention to the subject matter.
Audio and large-print books are also great for those with residual visual impairments due to optic neuritis or double vision. Large-print books allow for reading with less eye strain and audio books eliminate this hindrance. Libraries are good, free sources for both of these options. Many libraries have extensive sections for each, with both popular and not-so-known selections available. If you are unable to get yourself out to the library, many systems will deliver library materials to your home.
